NSW Young Greens boycott Australia’s largest Jewish student organisation

EXCLUSIVE: NSW Young Greens is boycotting the country’s largest Jewish student organisation. They told the Australasian Union of Jewish Students it would have nothing to do with their events.

NSW Young Greens co-convener Kleon Toffetti. Picture: Instagram

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NSW Young Greens is boycotting the country’s largest Jewish student organisation.

In a move which the federal Greens failed to condemn, the NSW Young Greens told the Australasian Union of Jewish Students that it would have nothing to do with the student group’s Jewish events.

“We have a longstanding position of not supporting this organisation because ... they support the occupation of Palestine­ illegally,” NSW Young Greens co-convener Kleon Toffetti confirmed to The Daily Telegraph.

Pressed on whether that effectively­ boycotted anyone who supported Israel’s right to exist, Mr Toffetti hung up.

AUJS, which represents 9000 Jewish university students across Australia and New Zealand, invited the Young Greens to an April 6 event with young political staffers from all sides of politics at NSW Parliament House.

He told The Daily Telegraph he is not supporting the organisation because they support the occupation of Palestine. Picture: Facebook

“If you are able to attend it would be fantastic if one of you would ... give a speech on why people should get involved in Greens and Young Greens,” AUJS said. “There will be ample time to mingle and sign interested people up.”

NSW Young Greens treasurer Eliza James replied: “The NSW Young Greens has a long history of declining to attend events by AUJS due to the continued support of the occupation of Palestine by your organisation. I will continue that tradition.”

Mr Toffetti reaffirmed Ms James’ position in an email: “It is true that NSWYG have a history of not engaging with AUJS, and I expect that this will continue for the foreseeable future. Our treasurer was acting with the consensus of the group with their reply.”

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Asked if Senator Di Natale supported or condemned the policy, a spokeswoman said the NSW Young Greens was an autonomous wing of the NSW Greens state party and, like any grassroots political party, there were a variety of opinions and approaches.

“We believe these spark lively debate and lead to better policy outcomes,” she said, adding the Australian Greens was committed to a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and supported the legitimate rights of both the ­Israeli and Palestinian people.

AUJS national chairman Isabella Polgar was angry and disappointed at the Young Greens’ policy: “We are deeply concerned that the youth wing of the NSW Greens has a policy of refusing to engage with Jewish students.”