Yom Ha’azmaut celebrated in Melbourne and Sydney
This week. the Victorian and NSW Jewish communities held cocktail functions to celebrate Israeli Independence Day.
Members of Melbourne’s Jewish leadership
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader John Pesutto attended in Melbourne, as did many Victorian MPs.
The evening was sponsored by the ZFA, ZV, JCCV and ECAJ.
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler welcomed the presence of the two leaders. He said: “Tonight was a celebration of the bond between Victoria and the State of Israel. The Jewish community is blessed to have a longstanding tradition of bi-partisan support in Victoria. The Government and Opposition understand the central role that Israel plays in our Jewish identity. The presence of the Premier and Opposition Leader, with dozens of MPs, is testament to the broad and welcome environment that the Jewish community – and Israel – has in Australia.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns addresses the Sydney function
In Sydney, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, addressed a gathering of community leaders. The function was hosted jointly by The New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, the State Zionist Council of NSW, the Zionist Federation of Australia and The Executive Council of Australian Jewry
Chris Minns is a great supporter of Israel and the Jewish people. He has been forthright in everything he’s had to say on the issues arising in Australia since October 7, on the overt antisemitism and the attempted intimidation of so many pro-Palestinian supporters.
Jacinta Allen, on the other hand, has been wishy-washy and disappointingly ‘proportionate’ in her remarks.