Conricus urges support for wounded soldiers
After October 7, more than 8504 new veterans have been added to its ranks, including 2111 diagnosed with PTSD.
A former IDF spokesman is visiting Australia for the first time to advocate for Israel’s wounded veterans through the Zahal Disabled Veterans Organisation (ZDVO) Beit Halochem.
Jonathan Conricus, now a senior fellow at the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said ZDVO does critical work in supporting Israel’s 65,000 wounded veterans and victims of terror.
After October 7, more than 8504 new veterans have been added to its ranks, including 2111 diagnosed with PTSD.
“My mission is to do good for an organisation that I think does tremendous good in Israel,” Conricus said.
“ZDVO runs four centres of rehabilitation where wounded Israeli veterans are able to start to get on the path of recovering and getting back into normal functioning life through sports.”
As a former Israeli soldier with combat experience, Conricus emphasised the organisation’s crucial role in rehabilitation.
“What Australians can do is support it financially. I’m very impressed with the level of support that already exists, but sadly, there is a need for more.”
Conricus noted one positive development in the wake of October 7 – the strengthened connection between Diaspora communities and Israel.
“One of the few positives that have come out of the horrible military failure of October 7 and the 15 months of war since then is a better understanding, mostly among Israelis, that the broad and diverse Jewish Diaspora around the world is really connected to Israel,” he aid.
During his visit, Conricus will also meet with Australian politicians and senior civil servants in Canberra to discuss regional security concerns. He will also brief journalists in Sydney and Melbourne.
“My aim will be to inform them, to share an unofficial Israeli perspective about the threats that we face, and to explain in very simple terms that there really shouldn’t be a dilemma for any democracy which side they should support in this battle,” he said.
Conricus expressed strong concern about rising antisemitism in Australia.
“History teaches those that are willing to listen that antisemitism is just the canary in the gold mine. It is just the first bellwether indicator of bad things happening in a society, and a society that allows antisemitism to run unchecked will face horrible consequences in the future,” he said.
Conricus spoke to Melbourne audiences this week, and will give a public talk in Sydney on Wednesday, February 19 at 7pm.
More info: zdvo.com
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