From Battle of Beersheba to battle for truth

One hundred and nine years after Australian soldiers charged Beersheba, a new Australian delegation has returned to fight a different battle: the battle for truth.

This time, their weapons are not rifles or horses, but open minds, firsthand experience and the courage to challenge misinformation about Israel.

I grew up in Australia, proudly represented my country in international sport and have spent much of my life in Israel, bringing people together across religious and cultural divides. If there is one lesson I have learned, it is that there is no substitute for meeting people face to face.

On October 31, 1917, the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade captured Beersheba from Ottoman forces in one of the most remarkable mounted charges of the First World War. Other Allied forces played an important role in the battle.

Recently, members of the Australian 2023 Foundation delegation visited Beersheba to commemorate the battle’s 109th anniversary.