Yom Ha’atzmaut message from ambassador of Israel to Australia

This year marks my first Yom Ha’atzmaut in Australia, and it is a privilege to share it with the resilient Jewish community here. I know that the vast majority of the Jewish community in Australia acknowledge that Israel is an integral part of their Jewish identity, sharing in the belief in Zion and the shared heritage and destiny.

Israel’s Independence Day is always a celebration of perseverance, renewal and hope, and marking it with Australian Jews carries special meaning. The connection this community shows towards Israel is unmistakable. Geography is no barrier to our sense of peoplehood.

Israel is not only where the Jewish story began; it is where that story continues to unfold. On Yom Ha’atzmaut we celebrate Israel’s achievements as a nation, but we also celebrate the enduring partnership between Israel and Jewish communities abroad that uphold our yearning for our ancestral homeland.

There is real opportunity to deepen our cooperation in the years ahead, building on the democratic values, innovation, and industrial capabilities that Israel and Australia proudly share. Diplomacy is sustained by partners willing to confront the challenges of the day together, bonded in resilience against an increasingly uncertain world, and I look forward to strengthening that partnership during my tenure here.

This year, Yom Ha’atzmaut is observed against a backdrop of global challenges, following nearly three years of hardship and pain. The day preceding Independence Day is the memorial day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism. Grief is bound together with joy. That is the story of the Jewish people. As we mark Independence Day, we also mourn the victims of terrorism here in Australia.

The firebombing of the Adass synagogue and the terror attack at Bondi Beach reminded us that the safety and freedom promised to Holocaust survivors can never be taken for granted. These events shook the world and demonstrated that threats to Jewish life exist everywhere. Israel watched with grief a with a profound sense of solidarity. When Jewish life is attacked anywhere, Israel feels that wound as its own.

The response of the Australian Jewish community has been remarkable. Again and again, you have rebuilt, contributed, and strengthened the society you call home. Through education, community work, and civic engagement, you reinforce the bonds that connect Australia to Israel and to the broader democratic world.

This is why Yom Ha’atzmaut remains so meaningful. Israel’s independence was born from the determination of a people to shape their own destiny. Seventy-eight years later, that spirit remains unchanged. Israel continues to defend the democratic values that unite us with friends like Australia. At the same time, we remain vigilant, defending our citizens against those who seek to impose terror and intimidation.

Operation Roaring Lion, launched by Israel and the United States, reflects Israel’s and the Jewish world’s ongoing struggle against the extremist Iranian regime and its proxies, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. Removing imminent existential threats is essential to protect not only Israelis but the broader democratic world.

For decades, Israel has stood on the front line defending security and prosperity. Now the regime’s full ambition has been revealed on the global stage, and the free world faces threats Israel has long known. Even societies once thought far removed from conflict, like Australia, have felt the impact of such violence.

My message to the Jewish community of Australia today is simple: Israel stands with you, today, tomorrow and always, just as you have stood with Israel. Together, we shape a future in which our people and our values endure.

Yom Ha’atzmaut sameach. I look forward to celebrating with you all soon.

Dr Hillel Newman is the ambassador of Israel to Australia.