A relationship that predates Israel’s rebirth
The relationship between Israel and Australia that has been a long standing and deep one dating back to well before the re-birth of the State of Israel.
As we observe the current and escalating wave of antisemitic outrages in Australia and despair at the struggles of the government to come to grips with this and the complexities of the Middle East, it is important we remind our country of a deeper, different story.
One is the long history of outstanding Jewish contributions to Australia across every field of human endeavour. This includes an unrivalled commitment to philanthropy in aid of our fellow Australians and making the world a better place as the practical manifestation of the principles of tzedakah and tikkun olam.
The other even less well known story is the relationship between Israel and Australia that has been a long standing and deep one dating back to well before the re-birth of the State of Israel.
In December 1914, the Australian troops training in Egypt encountered the 12,000 Jews who had been expelled by the Ottomans to Alexandria. This included members of my own family in the Light Horse. The diggers were moved by the plight of these people and gave the children rides on their horses and provided what comfort they could to them.
When the Diggers landed at Gallipoli they served alongside the Zion Mule Corps made up of volunteers from those same Jewish refugees. These volunteers served with great distinction and bravery. This led the British government to raise three battalions of Jewish volunteers, the 38th, 39th and 40th Royal Fusiliers. Among them was future Israeli prime minister David Ben-Gurion and future president Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. The commanding officer the British assigned to the 39th Battalion in 1918 was Jewish Australian Lieutenant Colonel Eliezer Margolin DSO, who had been wounded on Gallipoli and then served in France from 1916-1917, where he was again wounded several times. These battalions served alongside the Australians in the Middle East campaign and were key in securing the Jordan crossings that enabled the rapid Australian advance into Damascus where they were the first to enter that city.
As the Australian troops advanced north from their great victory at Beersheba in October 1917 they were welcomed with open arms by the Jewish community (the Yishuv) and were showered in hospitality. The Official History of the Light Horse Campaign states that the “welcome which they … gave to the Light Horsemen … was demonstrative and sincere. Regardless of the desultory enemy shell fire, they crowded around the Australians, shouting and laughing and crying, hailing them as true deliverers.”
Altogether the deep warmth of the experience and interaction “made those days the happiest the light horsemen had known since they landed in Egypt… Many warm friendships were founded, and, as the horsemen marched out for action, the troubled Jews would follow them with their blessings and tears.”
This experience was to be repeated in WWII where tens of thousands of Australians formed a close bond with the Yishuv, including again members of my family, in the 7th Division. The men camped for several pleasant days among orange groves and gum trees. They enjoyed hospitality from the surrounding Jewish settlements and, “Each night the troops were flocking to the communes … until the CO felt that it was just too good … A ballot system was introduced for rotating leave to the kibbutzim, where the Australians feasted on poultry and farm produce, and drank iced milk, the local libation of choice”.
“It was a wonderful relationship we had,” remembered one soldier. “We took up a collection and bought a player piano with a silver plaque and gave it to the settlement.”
Again volunteers from the Yishuv fought alongside Australian troops, including the legendary Moshe Dayan who lost his eye while serving with the 7th Division. Local Jews were among the first to join the newly formed SAS and served with great distinction in this elite unit and the Jewish Brigade that went on to fight in Italy.
The strength of the relationship was built upon through the efforts of the Chifley government that saw the partition plan for creating Israel and an Arab state adopted by the UN, voting for Israel’s membership of the UN and immediately diplomatically recognising the new State of Israel.
There has also been practical benefit in the intelligence Israel has provided Australia to enable us to defeat terrorist attacks and in the force protection technology that helps keep our troops safe.
This is a relationship that is underlined by the values we have together shed blood to defend and advance in this world.
We should recognise that Israel is currently engaged in a struggle against the same malign forces and against the same threat we face from Russia, Iran, China and North Korea.
Abandoning them at this time would not only be a heinous betrayal in their hour of greatest need but deeply contrary to our national interests.
Mike Kelly is a former ADF soldier, Labor government minister and the co-convenor of Labor Friends of Israel. A version of this article appeared in The Australian.
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