Howard’s unwavering support
"Why did I, as prime minister, support the legitimate arguments of the State of Israel? Because I thought they were right," says Former Prime Minister John Howard.
Former Prime Minister John Howard expressed his unwavering support for Israel and Jewish Australians as “a natural fit”, while sharing his sense of anger about rising antisemitism, in an address at the Sydney launch of the Australian Friends of United Hatzalah of Israel (AFUHI) on August 22.
“I admire the Jewish people because of their resilience,” Howard said.
“The way in which so many came to Australia – and after all the trevails and horrors involved in the Holocaust – they [still] brought a sense of hope and optimism, that encouraged me.
“You [Australian Jewry] are a model of what I might call successful integration.
“That’s why there’s a little level of extra anger, on my part . . . at the emergence in some quarters of Australia of antisemitism.
“It must be banged on the head, denounced, exposed, and repudiated, at every turn.
“And that [response] must not be politicised, in a party sense.
“There are tens of thousands of decent, left-leaning Labor people [party members] who are as appalled at this as I.
“I just want to see expression given to that by their leaders.
“The great majority of middle Australia – they understand the contribution of Jewish people to our community.”
Howard added, “Why did I, as prime minister, support the legitimate arguments of the State of Israel? Because I thought they were right”.
Revealing his first visit to Israel was in 1964, Howard said he has always been impressed with the strong similarities between Australia and Israel, including the spirit of volunteerism by their people.
“And the organisation we are honouring here tonight is a wonderful volunteer organisation.”
Fellow keynote speaker Dov Maisel – United Hatzalah of Israel’s co-founder – shared gripping details of how he co-ordinated its unprecedented medical emergency response on October 7 in Israel’s south.
“More than 1,000 volunteers went in under fire to save the lives of others . . . because other people needed their help – this is what United Hatzalah is,” Maisel said.
“The organisation has grown to over 7,000 volunteers from communities everywhere in Israel – men, women, Jews, and Arabs – harnessing the power of community.
“Over 2,000 emergency calls are responded to every day, with an average response time of under three minutes.”
AFUHI president Abe Weiszberger said, “We stand together on the the threshold of a new chapter, in support of United Hatzalah, ready to make a profound impact”.
For more information, visit https://israelrescue.org/en_AU or email executive director Darya Rubenstein at darya@israelrescue.org
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