Ex-PM’s love for Israel continues

JOHN Howard was among firm friends on Sunday night at Lincoln of Toorak, delivering the keynote address at a tribute dinner for Isi and Naomi Leibler.

Acknowledged by Isi as “the statesman who displayed the greatest support for Israel of the time”, the former Liberal prime minister gave some insights.

“It is true that in my time as prime minister I stuck up for Israel … because I thought it was right to do so, because I thought the homeland established for the Jewish people is their right.

“It still amazes me how undeniably reluctant so many countries are to recognise the fundamental right of Israel to exist.”

Howard was introduced by master of ceremonies Sam Lipski as a public figure with “a Yiddishe kop [Jewish head on his shoulders]”, which he described as a talent for thinking laterally¬† and never giving up.

Australia’s second-longest serving prime minister recalled spending time with the Leiblers at a 1988 concert in Melbourne honouring Soviet Refuseniks, who Isi helped take to Israel.

And in a nod to recent political developments, Howard lamented he could no longer call himself “immediate past prime minister”.

Then he turned to the guests of honour¬† — Naomi was feted for her world presidency of Emunah, particularly its Neve Michael children’s village in Pardes Chana, and Isi won plaudits for decades of service to Australian and world Jewry — and paid tribute to the couple as “two remarkable members of the world Jewish community”.

Earlier, Isi recalled his trip with the then Australian prime minister to Ramallah in 2000, when the Oslo Agreement still had currency.

Isi received an unwelcome embrace from Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat, whom he had railed against throughout his years as the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s terrorist chieftain.

Afterwards, Isi had privately expressed scepticism to Howard about those peace overtures, and was struck by the Australian leader’s “principled approach and friendship”.

“I will never forget John Howard’s response,” said Isi, quoting the former Australian leader. “‘If Arafat reneges on his commitment,’ he said, ‘the people of Israel and the Australian Jewish community should rest assured that I will not let them down’.”

Full interview with Isi Leibler in this week’s AJN print edition available at good newsagents.

PETER KOHN