Politicians and dignitaries celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday

Politicians, dignitaries and Jewish communal leaders packed the National Arboretum in Canberra on Wednesday night for the Embassy of Israel’s Independence Day Reception.

“It is an enormous honour to be here speaking tonight, the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told those gathered, noting the “special bond” between the countries.

“We see the incredible phenomenon of the start-up nation, which is Israel today, an economy which is based on human capital, on science and technology, and there is so much more Australia can learn from that and so much for us to do together,” he said.

“The affection which has existed across a great geographic distance, without any agenda gives a certain purity to our relationship, which for many Israelis sees in their eyes Australia, perhaps being their best friend. It is a beautiful thought.

“It’s a thought I’m sure which is at the heart of why we are here tonight.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said that when Israel was born 75 years ago, “The Jewish people finally had a place which was theirs. A place to call their own.

“That remarkable moment – the Declaration of Independence had twofold significance: A homecoming to ancient lands and the creation of a new home.”

He said the journey to that moment was “a truly remarkable story”.
“A story of every trial and tribulation, privation, enslavement, wandering, subjugation, persecution, exile, dispersion, massacre, Holocaust,” he said.

“But above all else, it’s a story of strength, of solidarity, and of survival.”

Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon paid tribute to all those in attendance before reflecting on the significance of the event.

“Tonight, we are celebrating a very special milestone in Israel’s history, 75 years, during which Australia has stood beside Israel since the beginning, and even before that,” he said.

“The deep connection between our peoples can be traced back to a seminal moment in Australia’s history during the First World War and the landing of the Anzacs at Gaba Tepe.

“A little known part of the Gallipoli landings involved the fervent Jewish volunteers of the Zion Mule Corps who landed under fire on April 27, 1915. These volunteers, exiled from their homes in the Ottoman Empire, constituted the first Jewish fighting force in two millenia. Their first action would be to fight alongside the Anzac forces at Gallipoli.”

Maimon added, “The charge of the light horse brigade at Beersheba would permanently etch Australian courage into the Israeli consciousness.

“As a young boy growing up in the city of Beersheba I remember walking along the many rows of Anzac gravestones commemorating the soldiers who sacrificed their lives.”

A moving moment then ensued as the Ambassador led the whole room in singing “Haveinu Shalom Alechem”.

Maimon concluded, “Israel is honoured and fortunate to count Australia among its closest friends in the world.

“Tonight, we celebrate seventy-five years of Israel’s independence. But we also celebrate a friendship that began before the State of Israel, and will endure long into the future.”