Herzog’s praise of Minns
"I will never apologise for taking the poison of antisemitism swiftly and seriously,” says Chris Minns.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has conveyed his “deepest gratitude” to NSW Premier Chris Minns for his leadership and solidarity in a letter read out by Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon.
Maimon read out the letter at the NSW communal Yom Ha’atzmaut cocktail event on Tuesday night, with politicians, community leaders and other dignitaries in attendance.
Commending Minns for his “outstanding leadership during this deeply challenging time for the State of Israel, the Jewish community in NSW and the broader Australian Jewish community”, Herzog wrote that the Premier’s principled stance and long standing support for the Jewish people had long been evident, but even more so since the October 7 Hamas-led attacks.
“You have been an eloquent voice for tolerance, mutual respect and democratic values,” Maimon read out.
“Through your decisive actions, clear moral leadership and unwavering commitment to protecting all citizens, you have sent a powerful message that antisemitism and all forms of bigotry will not be tolerated … please accept my sincerest gratitude and my best wishes.”
Earlier in the proceedings, Minns said he was “proud to count myself a friend of the Jewish people of NSW and a friend of the State of Israel”.
“The State of Israel may have started as a dream, but as Theodore Herzl once said, ‘If you will it, it is no dream’, and the people of Israel have willed it against the odds, against all expectations for 77 miraculous years,” he said.
In addition to joining “all civilised people” in demanding Hamas immediately release the remaining Israeli hostages it is holding in Gaza, Minns also praised the leadership of the NSW Jewish community and condemned the wave of antisemitic incidents Sydney experienced over the summer.
“I will never apologise for taking the poison of antisemitism swiftly and seriously,” he said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president David Ossip praised Minns as a steadfast supporter of the Jewish community, adding he would be a “treasured friend of the Jewish community for life”.
“We will never forget that you were there for us at our moment of need, motivated by such genuine care and concern,” he said.
Ossip described Israel as “a vibrant democracy under extremity” that has endured despite extraordinary challenges.
“We pause to give thanks for the miracle that is the state of Israel,” he said.
“But for Israelis, they’re not finished dreaming of what their country could become, and that’s what we celebrate here tonight.”
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