‘Help us spread love’

Indigenous Friends of Israel International is fundraising for an education campaign to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias in Australia, with plans to extend it internationally.

The group was founded in 2017 by Indigenous artist and pastor Norman Miller (Munganbana) who is of the Jirrbal, Bar-Barrum and Tableland Yidinji tribes, and his wife Barbara – a non-Indigenous author, sociologist and former psychologist. Both have actively campaigned for Indigenous rights in Australia.

Discussing the group’s importance, Barbara told The AJN, “As Israel is often referred to as a settler colonial racist apartheid state taking land from Indigenous Palestinian people, it is important we have Indigenous people stand up and say that Jewish people are Indigenous to the land of Israel and we support their right to live in their ancestral homeland.”

Barbara rejects the notion that Palestinians are indigenous to the land of Israel. She added, “There has been a concerted effort by the pro-Palestinian movement to coopt the Indigenous Australian cause to the Palestinian cause … They think if they can falsely convince people to believe their propaganda it would bolster their cause.”

The couple have visited Israel 12 times and are travelling to Israel again for the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Solidarity March on October 28.

The Indigenous Embassy was launched in February, with one of its purposes being to “stand against antisemitism and provide a tangible expression of indigenous peoples’ support for Israel and affirmation of the Jewish people’s indigenous status”.

Barbara believes that there is “very strong support of indigenous people around the world for Israel”.

The Millers stated, “Help us spread love, not hate and discrimination. Misinformation often overshadows truth. We need to put our efforts into justice, compassion and education.”

To donate or volunteer visit gofund.me/eece5118

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