Israel MoU scrapped
Caulfield MP and deputy Liberal leader David Southwick wrote to Allan last week expressing "concern and deep disappointment".
The Victorian government’s decision not to renew a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel’s Defence Ministry has raised deep concerns amid accusations the move was influenced by the Greens.
The agreement, made in December 2022, is up for renewal. Pressed on the decision not to extend it, Premier Jacinta Allan told media, “The government makes decisions regularly about MoUs of this type and we made the decision not to pursue a new MoU. There are many strategic opportunities we have across the broader defence industry, and we’ll be focused on those.”
Stressing that the MoU had never been about supplying weapons to Israel, Caulfield MP and deputy Liberal leader David Southwick wrote to Allan last week expressing “concern and deep disappointment”.
“It was a simple, prospective agreement that opened a pathway for our manufacturing businesses to make the most of an important international market,” wrote Southwick. “Victoria’s commercial relationship with Israel is longstanding, including the Victoria–Israel Science and Technology Research and Development (VISTECH) program I announced as part of the former Liberal government in 2014,” he noted.
Southwick described VISTECH and similar programs as “vital for research and development, commercialisation, agriculture and the burgeoning innovation and technology space”.
“As opposed to championing Victorian trade and manufacturing, you indulged the misinformation of the Greens. They launched this anti-Israel campaign as a blatant attempt to play politics on the conflict in the Middle East, shamelessly using Victoria’s Jewish community as their scapegoats.”
Contacted by The AJN, Southwick added, “Every single time the Premier decides to come and give a speech at a Jewish community event, we must remember that her actions speak louder than her words. Instead of backing our democratic ally Israel and locking in this opportunity for Victoria’s economy, Jacinta Allan has capitulated to the angry scare campaigns of the Greens. The Premier is no friend of the Jewish community, and she simply can’t be trusted.”
Australia–Israel Chamber of Commerce CEO Marcus Mandie stated, “Victoria and Israel enjoy a longstanding, special and close relationship, so whilst a lapsed MoU might be disappointing, there are other cooperations taking place for mutual benefit and a great opportunity to do more in sectors such as agriculture, education, cybersecurity and health.”
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