Nova Peris honoured by Technion
The former Olympic hockey gold medallist was one of four recipients honoured at a special ceremony during the Technion Board of Governors meeting this month
Former Labor senator Nova Peris has been awarded the Technion President’s Award for Exceptional Achievement in recognition of her dedication to combating antisemitism and defending Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The former Olympic hockey gold medallist was one of four recipients honoured at a special ceremony during the Technion Board of Governors meeting this month, where she drew powerful parallels between Aboriginal and Jewish experiences of persecution and exile.
“Ancient communities exiled, persecuted, and struggling for survival. Communities with a painful past—but a hopeful future,” Peris said during a panel discussion on antisemitism.
The first Aboriginal Australian to serve in federal parliament and the first Aboriginal Olympic gold medallist, Peris told the gathering that the Aboriginal community “owes much to the Jews who defended and fought for its rights”.
“That’s why I wept with Australian Jews on October 7,” she said. “I came to Israel, visited Kibbutz Be’eri and the Nova site, and watched the horror video—after which no one can ignore absolute evil.”
Peris was presented with the award alongside attorney Jeff Abrams, Professor Qanta Ahmed, and Professor Dr Patrick Cramer “in recognition of their dedication to combating antisemitism and defending the State of Israel, particularly in the wake of the events of October 7, 2023”.
The citation praised their “commitment to truth, justice, and the Jewish people, both within academia and beyond” and their “courage, advocacy, and leadership, which have stood against hatred, misinformation, and hostility”.
During the antisemitism panel, Peris criticised the Australian response to the October 7 attacks, revealing that antisemitic incidents began almost immediately.
“In Australia, too, antisemitism reared its head—two days after the massacre, Israeli flags were burnt en masse. No one was arrested, and this legitimised continued antisemitic actions,” she said.
She described how antisemitic rhetoric escalated from “F*** the Jews” to the “even more appalling ‘Gas the Jews'”.
Peris strongly rejected claims that Israel is an apartheid state, describing it instead as “a country defending itself from brutal terror”.
“We honour the resilience of the Jewish people, who have suffered unparalleled persecution, and the spirit of Israeli youth now defending their homeland,” she said.
Peris also emphasised the historical connections between Aboriginal Australians and Israel.
“On behalf of the Aboriginal people standing with Israel—some of whom came here with me—I share your grief for the victims and support your struggle for freedom,” she said.