Community message
- Published December 1 2024
- Community Message
PROGRESS IN ISRAEL AND VICTORIA
WHY I AM IN ISRAEL RIGHT NOW
The most common question I have been asked on my latest trip to Israel is “Why are you here?” My answer is simple: I am here to support Israel. This is my contribution to the war effort. By being here, I believe I’m helping ensure that Israel doesn’t stand alone in this critical time.
The welcome I’ve received has been overwhelming—friends and family have greeted me with open arms, expressing their appreciation for my presence.
That said, our “welcome to country” from Hezbollah last Sunday is one we won’t forget. We found ourselves in Petach Tikvah during a rocket attack, experiencing firsthand what Israelis have endured for 13 long months. It was sobering, but it only strengthened my resolve.
Israel is suffering deeply, and the need for solidarity and support is urgent. The temporary ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope. A local friend even said, “See? Look what you did. You brought a little bit of peace.”
For me, being here isn’t just about witnessing history but standing with Israel when it needs us most.
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
This week, the Victorian Government made two significant announcements that will impact our Jewish community.
The first, on Tuesday, was the introduction of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-Vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024.
Our current weak laws have meant that for far too long, Victorians have been able to get away with vilifying and assaulting Jews. We are pleased that the Victorian Government has taken steps to strengthen both the civil and criminal vilification laws. We urge the Parliament to speedily debate and implement these essential reforms.
The JCCV supports the Bill’s proposals to criminalise incitement to hatred and to introduce stronger penalties for those who are found guilty of incitement. It is welcome that this Bill also seeks to address vilification in online, given how much hate speech is spread through social media and extremist websites.
We thank the Government for the extensive consultation with the JCCV and we will continue to work with the Attorney General Jaclyn Symes to discuss how these reforms address other emerging challenges, including stopping individuals who try to circumvent laws by using proxy words, like Zionist, rather than Jew, and boycotts of Jewish owned businesses.
The second, on Wednesday, was the launch of the long-awaited Victorian Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2029.
The strategy includes four goals to address racism and discrimination and to increase cultural safety in Victoria.
While the strategy does not identify any specific government plans to address antisemitism, it does codifies the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which is an important step. This is the definition that has the support of the majority of the local Jewish community.
IN THE MEDIA
This week, the JCCV was quoted in a number of media articles on the new anti-vilification law reforms. To view them, click here.
There were also a number of significant opinion pieces published this week, which we urge you to take a look at:
- Ceasefire deal will work — if Hezbollah lets it by Ambassador Amir Maimon
- Canberra’s Gaza comments have contributed to antisemitism in Australia – by Dr Colin Rubenstein AM and Jamie Hyams OAM
- Labor’s Foreign Policy Pivot a Clear Betrayal of Our Allies by Jeremy Leibler
