Meeting with leaders at ARK

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles received a tour of the ARK Centre and engaged in a roundtable discussion with Victorian Jewish community leaders on October 20.

Discussing the government’s handling of its decision to revoke Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria (JCCV) Daniel Aghion said that leaving aside issues with the policy change, the Jewish community was concerned with the timing of the decision being on a Jewish holiday and the lack of community consultation.

Giles was informed that when Israel is raised in the media it can lead to an increase in antisemitism, and therefore the Jewish community should be provided with sufficient notice to make requisite security arrangements. Giles said he would convey these concerns to his colleagues.

Regarding antisemitism, the minister said he was alarmed by the rise of far-right extremism in Australia. Aghion noted that while Victoria and NSW have legislated against the Nazi swastika, the JCCV would like to see more action taken against far-right extremism at a federal level.

Also discussed was antisemitism on campus in the wake of motions critical of Israel. Giles said, “It raises a series of complicated questions. On the one hand, the ability of organisations to freely debate matters of concern … On the other hand, the right of all community members to feel safe, and to be able to express themselves appropriately … I think finding ways to express our disagreements in more respectful terms … should be a core objective of all of us in the public sphere.”

Present at the roundtable along with Aghion was Rabbi Gabi Kaltmann, ARK board member David Mandel, JCCV executive director Judy Fetter, JCCV COO Naomi Levin, and president of NCJWA (Vic) Helen Lewin.

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