Allegra Spender under fire
Despite signing the letter, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies David Ossip said Spender's service to the Jewish community is appreciated.
Allegra Spender’s decision to sign a joint letter with fellow teal MPs calling on Foreign Minister Penny Wong to potentially restore funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) has received mixed and heated reactions from the community.
The letter to Wong requested an alternative aid provider be found or “the government provides immediate clear directions as to what actions UNRWA can feasibly take in order that funding can be restored before we bear witness to a humanitarian collapse in Gaza”.
It was also signed by teal MPs Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney, Monique Ryan, Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps and Kylea Tink, Andrew Wilkie and Helen Haines.
As a result of the letter, Spender had her invitation to speak at the 25th anniversary of Courage to Care NSW withdrawn and it’s understood one of the Jewish day schools also cancelled a scheduled visit by the Wentworth MP.
Jewish businessman Russell Pillemer said it was “highly concerning” that Spender co-signed a letter with people “who have vilified Israel”.
“As the federal member representing one of Australia’s largest Jewish communities you [Spender] are in a position to make a difference, by publicly urging Hamas to accept a ceasefire and immediately release the hostages,” Pillemer said.
Despite signing the letter, NSW Jewish Board of Deputies David Ossip said Spender’s service to the Jewish community is appreciated. Spender is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of IHRA and is at the forefront of initiatives to combat antisemitism. She has also spoken out in support of Israel and the Jewish community in Parliament and has attended solidarity rallies.
“While we strongly disagree that any further government funding should be allocated to UNRWA and vehemently object to the hostile positions on Israel expressed by many of the co-signatories to the letter, we recognise with appreciation Allegra’s service to our community since she was elected,” Ossip said.
Co-president of the Union for Progressive Judaism Danny Hochberg said cancelling a friend of Israel and our community “sends the wrong message to Australians”.
“Having some empathy for the plight of the many innocent Palestinians caught up in the crisis is no crime,” Hochberg said.
“In these dark times, we need friends, and Allegra Spender is a true and proven one.”
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