Prime Minister Bob Hawke 1983 Photo: Wikimedia Commons

President of the ZFA, Jeremy Leibler stated: “Bob Hawke was a true friend of the Jewish community, an icon, and the pinnacle symbol of leadership in this country.”

“Hawke led many important social, environmental and economic reforms and left a permanent mark on this country with his great skill, connection to people and his true authenticity. For the Jewish community, he will always be treasured and remembered with the way he genuinely cared about the plight of Soviet Jewry and the longevity and success of Israel.”

“Hawke did not have to fight for Soviet Jewry, but he chose to do so anyway, defying the advice of his own department in the process to lobby for the right for Jewish Refuseniks from the former Soviet Union to be able to emigrate and live freely – a remarkable feat that millions of migrants including those who migrated to Australia to this day, are eternally grateful for.”

“It is also evident from Hawke’s overall strong record on Israel that he was genuinely invested in and cared about the security of the State of Israel.”

“In 1987, Hawke became the first ever sitting Australian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Just four years later in 1991, under Hawke’s leadership and following a campaign led by the ZFA, Australia was the first country in the world that passed a unanimous motion to rescind the infamous Zionism is racism’ resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1975.”

“Hawke pushed a more tolerant society, proactively protecting minority communities and ensuring a better Australia that we are all ultimately grateful for and enjoy today.”

“Vale, Bob Hawke. You are a true Chaver and Mentsch and will be missed by the entire Australian Jewish community. May your memory be forever a blessing”.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) mourns the passing of Bob Hawke, one of Australia’s greatest statesmen, and a much-beloved friend of both the Australian Jewish community and of Israel.

As Prime Minister, Hawke will always be remembered for his mastery of policy detail and inspiring leadership while maintaining an unwavering authenticity and approachability. These qualities enabled him to steer a government that pushed through transformative reforms that truly changed the face of Australian society and its place in the world.

Earlier, as ACTU leader, Hawke set the scene for these reforms by guiding the Australia labour movement forward with new approaches to the economic problems and challenges of the late 20th century.

The uniquely warm relationship Hawke forged with our Jewish community, and its leaders at the time, both at the ACTU and when he entered politics, will always be cherished. AIJAC National Chairman Mark Leibler was one of those leaders who worked closely with him in those years in his then capacity as President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, and recalls with gratitude his great warmth and openness.

During Hawke’s eight years in government, his genuine affection for Israel throughout his public career saw Australia-Israel relations reach new heights – including the first ever visit to Australia by an Israeli President and the first ever visit to Israel by a serving Australian Prime Minister.

He also deserves to be remembered with sincere gratitude for the courageous role he took in the campaign on behalf of Soviet Jewry, for his pioneering efforts in government to overturn the odious “Zionism is Racism” resolution at the UN, for his efforts to encourage peace between Israel and its neighbours, and for forging close bonds between the ACTU and the Histradrut, Israel’s equivalent trade union body.

Bob Hawke was a truly great Australian whose positive contributions to this nation were profound. AIJAC offers our sincerest condolences to his family and many friends. May his memory be a blessing.

Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of The ADC commented on the death of former PM Bob Hawke, a member of the ADC’s Council of Advisors for more than two decades: