Letters, June 26, 2009
 
Last week’s cover
IS there no other news to print on the front page of the newspaper (AJN 19/06)?¬†Do we have to display so openly events that bring us nothing but shame and disgrace?¬†A large number of our community, myself included, are greatly disgusted both with the Adelaide rabbi’s actions and with the current display of that ugly event on the first page of The AJN.
Many of the Elsternwick newsagents — not exactly friends of ours — pointed out this page with their great pleasure to their customers.¬†A smaller article inside the newspaper would have been more than sufficient.
HELEN LEPERERE
Elsternwick, Vic
 
Not page one worthy
WHAT is your aim in showing us a full front page of newspaper devoted to a photograph of a disgraced rabbi (AJN 19/06)? How does this help us as a community? Certainly it is newsworthy, but it should be in small print inside the paper. Surely there are more important items for the front page, hopefully more than one item of interest, from our vibrant community at home and overseas. 
Your decision reeks of self-centred sensationalism, and I would have hoped your ethics and aims were higher than that that your priorities in evaluating the portrayal of different items would have thought of encouraging collective pride and highlighting opportunities for improvement, never forgetting the impact of the newspaper on our non-Jewish neighbours, friends and foes. The AJN has been a great newspaper for a long time, and I expect it to go forward, not backward, and reflect good journalism with balance and sensitivity.
ELIZABETH LEVY
Bellevue Hill, NSW
 
Preferring The Age
SHOULD The Jewish News be better referred to as “the Anti-Jewish News”? The front page gleefully shouts “Charged” about Rabbi Engel of Adelaide, surely a serial killer, or so one might think.¬†Then a full-page article on brit milah, a mitzvah held dear by the majority of Jews, which is headlined: “Mitzvah or mutilation?” I believe we (Jews) would be better treated by even, dare I say, The Age?
ELLA BLESOFSKY
St Kilda East, Vic
 
Sensationalism
WE were absolutely disgusted by the sensationalism your paper indulged in by splashing Adelaide Rabbi Yossi Engel’s photo and caption across the front page of this week’s AJN (19/06). Surely more fuel for anti-Semitism.¬†Surely your editors realise that the paper is seen by all and sundry in the numerous newsagencies that stock it. It is not a paper that relies purely on subscription and home delivery.
FRANKIE AND RAYMOND GARFIELD
North Bondi, NSW
 
PR machine cranks up
HERE we go again. The hasbarah mill is working overtime to discount and deflect criticism of Israel.¬†¬† Now a full-page article in The AJN (12/06), with Philip Mendes leading the charge, signals the most recent attempt to fudge the issues. The latest focus is Jewish critics of Israel.¬†Mendes claims that it is “arguably problematic to call [Anti-Zionists] Jews at all”. Hey presto! Criticism dismissed. ¬†¬†
But this kind of ploy merely underlines the growing strength of Jewish voices in opposition to the continuing occupation and oppression of the Palestinians. If these voices are valid Jewish voices, we might have to pay attention.¬†So, like Carthage, they must be destroyed, at least in the eyes of “right-thinking” Jews. This issue of who is Jewish and who has the right to speak as a Jew is now a key ground for debate in terms of criticism of Israel.
The real success of this year’s Limmud-Oz, with its doors wide open to Independent Australian Jewish Voices, Jews Against the Occupation, Jewish Voices for Peace and Justice and Seven Jewish Children, gives the lie to this attempt to anathematise Jewish critics.¬†The workshops presenting views vilified by the communal “leadership” as “not Jewish” were very well attended. Real Jews in the real Jewish community are quite capable of thinking for themselves and are very keen to do so.¬†The Jewish community includes all of us who identify as Jews, not just the group that agrees with our “leaders”. Our views are being heard, regardless of the antics of the hasbarah activists.
VIVIENNE PORZSOLT
Jews Against the Occupation, Sydney
 
Kron not on
CARTOONISTS can perform a valuable function with their observations of society. Because their work involves simplification of complex matters, however, they run the risk of making mistakes. This is what Kron did in his recent cartoon on the hate crimes issue (AJN 05/06).¬†Kron drew Sergeant Schultz, a character from ’70s TV show Hogan’s Heroes. His uniform is emblazoned with the word “Police” and his back is turned to another figure entitled “hate crimes”.
There are significant problems with this depiction. At best, Victoria Police is characterised as bumbling and obtuse like Schultz. At worst, however, is something far more sinister, a Nazi Victoria Police officer ignoring, perhaps even condoning hate crimes. Both suggestions are wrong and unfair to Victoria Police. While Victoria Police can always do better, it is clear that it has taken major steps in recent years to improve its policing of a complex multicultural society. 
Its officers (particularly senior ranks) have listened to and learnt from Victoria’s many faith and ethnic representative organisations, including the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV). Positive changes have been made that have benefited our culturally diverse state and we are optimistic that more will occur.¬†Unfortunately, Kron’s cartoon gives a very different impression.
GEOFFREY ZYGIER   
Executive director, JCCV
 
End the appeasement
IN last week’s AJN, the Zionist Council of Victoria, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Australian Jewish Democratic Society spokespersons were all quoted as supportive of a “two-state solution”.¬†None of those organisations speak on my behalf -— and I do not support a two-state solution.
I am a fairly moderate, well-educated, mature and not overly observant Jew, who passionately supports the existence of Israel — as would just about 99 per cent of every other Jewish person with an understanding of our history of persecution.¬†I, and those like me, are not “right-wing Zionist zealots”. Nor are we “rabid left-wing communists”. We are ordinary Australians operating mostly in the wider Australian community. It is time that the majority middle ground was heard on the continued existence of Israel .
Of course we realise that throughout the western world, Arab propaganda has worked particularly well in marrying anti-Semitism, Zionism and the Left/Right argument into popular mythology depicting the “Palestinians” and Arab freedom fighters as the underdog, the downtrodden, the champions of liberty and all that is good and pure.¬†So now not supporting the “legitimate aspirations of the downtrodden Palestinians” or not “denouncing the Israeli right-wing oppressors” makes one somehow out of step.¬†
That the proclaimed leaders of our community support appeasement as a legitimate tactic in ensuring the continuation of the State of Israel is to me a tragedy.¬†So what is this “two-state solution”?¬†First of all everyone -— no exceptions -— has to truly recognise the State of Israel as a nation state with an absolute right to exist — indefinitely — within clear and agreed borders. If this was possible we should have a beginning.
However, this is not possible. Many Arabs have often stated that it is permitted to promise a lie if it is done to pursue a holy cause.¬†So let us be quite plain. Israel shall continue. Israel should not be weakened by appeasement. Israel should be supported in its defence of itself because in defending itself it is defending every Jew in the world. If there are some Jews who feel that Israel is too vigorous -— tough! Get over it.¬†
Most of us have felt some form of anti-Semitism from time to time in my time, especially growing up, I hit back -— it hurt but I got respect and it stopped.¬†It’s the same with terrorism and propaganda. Terrorism creates a reaction, not respect. Propaganda cannot survive reasoned argument and determination.¬†Now is the time to support — not appease.
LES HEIMANN
Moorabbin, Vic
 
Palestinian support 
THE huge gap between Australian supporters for Palestinians and Israel is a mirror image of the Israeli government and the Palestinian factions in charge of Gaza and the West bank. The Peres Peace football team, initiated by local well-meaning Jews, was described by Palestinian lobbyist Sonja Karkar as a PR stunt and waste of time. She questioned how can people at war can play games. 
In one of their statements, the Australians for Palestine (AFP) lobbyists referred to Peres as a “notorious Zionist architect of Palestinian ethnic cleansing”. The same man is considered a peacenik by the Jewish Left.¬†Moammar Mashni from the Friends of Palestine group was reportedly invited to join Albert Dadon’s Australia Israel Cultural Exchange trip to Israel with MP Julia Gillard and others, but he rejected it and instead organised a petition alongside other anti-Zionists, including Jews, requesting Gillard not to go.¬†
Perhaps Mashni and the petition participants are afraid our politicians will see for themselves when they go to Ramallah how divided the Palestinians are between Fatah and Hamas and how dealing with the extremist Islamist leadership in Gaza will be almost impossible. The politicians will see for themselves how the rockets are still being fired out of Gaza, and how all the buildings and structures in Gaza left in tact by Israelis were destroyed. 
The intransigence of the local Palestinian lobbyists and their supporters is in contrast to so many Jews here falling over themselves to appease and, in many cases, take on the Palestinian cause without reciprocity.
MICHAEL BURD
Toorak, Vic
 
Attacks deplored
RECENT media reports describing the alleged racially motivated attacks on members of the Indian community living here in Melbourne have disturbed those of us who hold dearly the principles of respect for another person, irrespective of race, religion, creed, colour or gender. The Victorian Council of Christians & Jews deplores all racist attacks and strongly advocates that the best and most effective communal response would be to engage with, and learn about the other. By fostering goodwill and mutual respect, we will make great advances in creating the harmonious and peaceful society that we long cherish.
WALTER RAPOPORT
Chairman, Executive Committee of the Council of Christians & Jews (Vic)
 
Brotherly love
WHY mention that Kevin Rudd’s nephew, along with 700 others, signed a stupid petition claiming Israel is not a democracy, Peter Costello (AJN 19/06) when your own brother, Reverend Tim Costello, made nonsense excuses for the terrorists who perpetrated the September 11 atrocities, saying they were driven by poverty and despair when, in fact, they came from wealthy Saudi families and were driven by hate?¬†Surely Mr Costello, you are familiar with the saying about people living in glass houses not throwing stones?
HENRY HERZOG
St Kilda East, Vic
 
Colourful description
PHILIP Mendes referred to groups formerly written off as self-hating Jews (AJN 12/06). I believe it is inappropriate that this term continue to be applied to people like Antony Loewenstein and his fellow travellers. Given how important they believe their fringe views are, it is clear they love themselves way too much. I prefer Melanie Phillips’ title for them: Jews for Genocide.
DANIEL LEWIS
Rushcutters Bay, NSW
 
 
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