AJDS sanctions call sparks community tension

The Australian Jewish Democratic Society (AJDS) has sparked fresh controversy within the Jewish community after joining Muslim and pro-Palestine organisations in calling for government sanctions against Israel and immediate recognition of Palestinian sovereignty.

The joint statement appeared in advertisements published in The Age and Sydney Morning Herald on August 6, alongside organisations including the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of NSW, and the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils.

Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) President Philip Zajac has requested an urgent meeting with AJDS leaders following the public call for sanctions.

“Publicly calling for sanctions against the world’s only Jewish state at a time when Israel continues to negotiate for the release of its civilian hostages, who have been held in terrible conditions for more than 600 days by Hamas, is in contravention of the JCCV’s Jewish values,” the JCCV stated.

The advertisement accuses Israel of “genocide by killing starving and displacing Palestinians in Gaza” but makes no reference to the October 7 attacks, hostages, Hamas’s actions, or calls from Arab nations for Hamas to cease operations.

AJDS spokesperson Larry Stillman defended the organisation’s position, acknowledging the confrontational nature of their statement.

“AJDS condemned Hamas for its attack and taking of hostages, from the beginning and argue that it committed war crimes. That has been said on numerous occasions,” Stillman said.

“But in this Open Letter, we have been concerned, as have others, with the appalling situation right now.”

Regarding the JCCV’s request for a meeting, Stillman said AJDS would arrange “a amenable time with members of the JCCV” but criticised the timing of the public condemnation.

“It would have been preferable to meet us first before putting out their public statement which appears to have already passed judgement on us. It would have been courteous to allow us to put our case first to its executives before condemning us,” he said.

Stillman said AJDS “has for years advocated for sanctions based on humanitarian principles” and noted the government has imposed some but argued there should be more.

Stillman addressed criticism over the use of the term “genocide,” stating it was “specifically directed at the government of Israel, not Israeli Jews as a community.”

“After 22 months of war and at least 60,000 civilians and militants killed in Gaza, and the quite deliberate and explicit withholding of aid to Gazans by Israel, we decided it was time to support this Open Letter,” he explained.

The AJDS has previously clashed with JCCV positions on Israel-related matters.

Previous attempts to expel the organisation have failed due to JCCV constitutional requirements for a two-thirds majority at plenum, with some member organisations defending AJDS’s right to express dissenting views despite disagreeing with their positions.

The JCCV said that while it welcomes diverse member organisations, the public call for sanctions contravenes the council’s Jewish values.