Maccabiah bridge investigator appearing for UIA
THE man who headed a parliamentary inquiry into the 1997 Maccabiah Games bridge collapse will address Australians next week as a guest of United Israel Appeal (UIA).
THE man who headed a parliamentary inquiry into the 1997 Maccabiah Games bridge collapse will address Australians next week as a guest of United Israel Appeal (UIA).
Moodi Sandberg, who is now the UIA world chairman, is tasked with co-ordinating local UIA organisation and programs around the world.
“I’m coming to meet the Jewish community of Australia,” Sandberg told the <I>AJN<P> from Israel. “I think the Australian campaign is excellent and I’m sure I will meet a lot of different people during my time there.”
He said by donating to the UIA, Australians help people in Israel who are currently struggling.
“We support activities regarding refugees and assisting new immigrants to Israel.”
The world chairman has spent his career helping Israel at home and abroad. He was elected to the Knesset in 1992 and during his 14 years in politics he was the deputy speaker of the Knesset, deputy minister for education, culture and sport, minister of science and technology and minister for infrastructure.
He founded the Israel-Africa Friendship society and was the chairman of the Israel-Finland, Israel-Brazil and Israel-Vietnam parliamentary associations.
“The idea was to create relationships to ease the political isolation that we were feeling in Israel during my time in the Knesset,” he explained.
“We were able to develop relationships with other governments that helped Israeli exports and also allowed us to explain to other country’s Israel’s position on a variety of issues.”
One of his most interesting roles, was as chairman of the parliamentary inquiry committee two years after the Maccabiah Games bridge collapse. As a result of that tragedy, four Jewish Australian athletes lost their lives.
“I think it was a terrible event but out investigation did not look for criminal responsibility but rather how the families of those who passed away and were injured were treated,” Sandberg said. “We didn’t give the best service that we could and that was the first time I was exposed to the warm, loving and supporting Australian Jewish community.
“We need to do more to help people who are involved in catastrophes because we didn’t do enough for those Australians, families but I learned how much Australia cares for Israel during that role.”
Sandberg will be speaking at at UIA functions on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. For more information call 9361 4273.
JOSHUA LEVI
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