Australia rallies around Israel 

By Mark Schulman 
April, 23 2002 
Jerusalem Post

SYDNEY - An estimated 7,000 Australians staged a rally here 
Sunday to show solidarity with Israel and outrage at the 
rise in anti-Semitic attacks. 

Many of the demonstrators wore blue-and-white and waved Israeli 
flags, while others carried banners saying: "No reconciliation 
with terrorism." The crowd listened in silence as the names 
of those killed in recent suicide bombings were read out. 

"We're having a rally to show solidarity with the people of 
Israel and to assert Israel's basic right of self-defense," 
Ron Weiser, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, 
told The Jerusalem Post. "We've had enough of watching suicide 
bombing after suicide bombing. This was a chance for the 
community to demonstrate its support for Israel." 

The rally was co-sponsored by the Zionist Federation of 
Australia, the New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies, 
the State Zionist Council of New South Wales, the Executive 
Council of Australian Jewry, the Australasian Union of 
Jewish Students, and the Australian Zionist Youth Council. 

It was the latest of several big events for the 110,000-strong 
Australian Jewish community; following six large Israel 
Independence Day celebrations throughout the country's 
major cities, as well as a similar pro-Israel rally in 
Melbourne the week before. 

"The rally was important for the Jewish community of Sydney 
to express some of their feeling and sentiments, especially 
in light of all the recent demonstrations against Israel," 
said Consul-General Ephraim Ben-Matityahu, who was among 
the guest speakers. "It also highlighted Australian solidarity, 
not just Jewish solidarity, with Israel." 

Australian Parliament members, community leaders, rabbis, 
students, Israeli travelers, and Christian organizations 
also took part. 

Addressing the increase in anti-Israel demonstrations and 
anti-Semitic attacks in a recent newspaper op-ed, Foreign 
Minister Alexander Downer said there is a place in Australian 
society for the lawful demonstration of political opinions, 
but there is no place for a violent expression of those 
views. 

Echoing this sentiment, Australia's leading Jewish, Muslim, 
and Christian organizations - the Executive Council of 
Australian Jewry, the Australian Federation of Islamic 
Councils, and the National Council of Churches in Australia, 
issued a joint declaration condemning any form of violence 
arising in Australia because of the emotions engendered by 
the conflict in the Middle East. 

According to Jeremy Jones, president of the Executive Council 
of Australian Jewry, April was the worst month for anti-Semitic 
attacks in decades. 

"There have been more than 100 reports of anti-Semitic acts 
of violence, vandalism, and harassment," he said, 
"particularly in Melbourne and Sydney, where several synagogues 
have been targeted with graffiti, rocks, and attempted 
arson." 

A firebomb was thrown at the Jewish Center in Canberra 
early Saturday morning. No one was injured. 

The Israeli Embassy, the Sydney Jewish Museum, the Melbourne 
office of Magen David Adom, and other Jewish institutions 
have also received increased hate mail and telephone 
threats. 

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