October 7 Gaza, Lebanon protests ‘a national shame’: Jewish leaders
Jewish community leaders mourn those lost in the October 7 massacre, and take aim at the ‘veneer of peace’ projected by pro-Palestine protesters.
Jewish leaders argue the widening conflict in the Middle East is “a civilisational battle” in which Israel is “expected to passively submit to its own annihilation”, as they face down a year of division since October 7.
Observing one of the holiest periods on the Hebrew calendar between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and on the anniversary of the Hamas massacre, officials from the Zionist Federation of Australia and Executive Council of Australian Jewry have reflected on the dire circumstances domestically and abroad.
“No other country facing terrorist attacks on its civilians is expected to passively submit to its own annihilation,” ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said.
“We acknowledge the suffering of innocent Palestinians. Their plight, however, is not a result of Israel’s actions, but of Hamas’ brutal strategy. Hamas uses its own people as human shields, prolonging their suffering to further its own ends. Peace will never come through terrorism, and those who genuinely care about the Palestinian people must recognise that Hamas is their greatest enemy.”
ECAJ co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin, at a press conference in Double Bay in Sydney on Monday, echoed sentiments of Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon, in emphasising the threat to Australia posed by Hezbollah and Hamas.
“We’ve seen Hezbollah carry out atrocities not just against Israel and Jewish people, but against Western targets. But ultimately, you look at the ideology of these groups and their supporters, it is viciously anti-modern, anti-Western, anti-capitalist, anti-progressive,” Mr Ryvchin said.
“So they view Israel as the embodiment, the symbol of everything on the other side of that. That’s why this really is a civilisational battle. Israel is just at the pointy end of it.
“I’m in close contact with Jewish communities and my counterparts throughout the world, there is iron-clad support for Israel, for the Jewish people, for the fight against anti-Semitism and for the fight against terrorism.”
He argued anti-Israel protesters project a “veneer of hoping for peace” but ultimately “want war, they just want Israel to be losing”.
“We’ve never opposed the right of Australians to assemble, to express political views, even abhorrent political views. We simply asked these people to leave this one day alone, to let this day be a day of warning and commemoration to the Jewish people,” he said.
“If they were concerned for civilian loss of life, they would have been concerned on October 7.
“It’s a national shame, and it has to be confronted. It’s not good enough. You can’t have one group of people controlling the streets and another having to cower in fear.”
The press conference concluded with the hosts performing the Israeli national anthem.
ZFA chief executive Alon Cassuto called out “the rapid deterioration of our social cohesion” over the last year.
“Despite the heartbreak of October 7 and the subsequent collapse of interfaith dialogues, we still hold onto hope. There is a silent majority, even within the Muslim community, that rejects extremism and desires peace,” Mr Cassuto said.
“The fight against antisemitism and hatred is not just a fight for Jews; it is a fight for Australian values.”
Another memorial service will be held in Sydney on Monday evening, as well as a candlelit vigil in Melbourne.
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