Premier’s praise for Israel
Addressing Jewish communal leaders, fellow politicians, dignitaries and representatives of other communities and faiths, Minns recalled travelling to Israel.
“Israel is a beautiful country, full of beautiful people,” Premier Chris Minns told the hundreds gathered for Israel’s 76th Independence Day Reception on Tuesday night.
Addressing Jewish communal leaders, fellow politicians, dignitaries and representatives of other communities and faiths, Minns recalled travelling to Israel “as a younger man as part of a political program with a union leader from Victoria named Bill [Shorten] and a young politician from Coogee named Scott [Morrison]”.
“What other place in the entire world manages to combine history and modernity, east and west, and nod to the past while firmly and courageously embracing the future?” Minns remarked.
“It’s one of the very special places on earth.”
The Premier echoed Rabbi Shua Solomon, who had earlier recited a prayer for the hostages in Gaza, and called for their immediate release.
“Friends we also pray for peace tonight … right now it might feel like a miracle,” Minns said.
“But as David Ben-Gurion once said, in Israel, anyone who doesn’t believe in miracles is not a realist.”
Minns also addressed the rise in antisemitism locally, calling it “one of the great tragedies of the past eight months”.
“As Premier, I believe I can speak across the political spectrum when I say we will fight against antisemitism and religious hatred wherever it lurks in this great state.”
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman recalled speaking last year about “75 years of statehood, partnership and most importantly, friendship”.
“Those bonds and those values are more important than ever, but they are under attack like we’ve never seen since the creation of the State of Israel,” he said.
“We pray for peace, which is only possible when Israel’s right to exist is acknowledged and embraced by all.”
Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon told of how since October 7 he had discovered who his real friends are.
“And it gives me great pleasure to especially mention the Premier … you’re a man of your word, a man that follows your values and principles, and you have my deepest appreciation.”
He also thanked Speakman for his “longstanding support”.
“We don’t take anything for granted,” Maimon said.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) president David Ossip thanked the friends of the Jewish community who were present for their support, making special mention of Nova Peris, who had flown from Melbourne to attend.
The event at Sydney’s Shangri-La Hotel was hosted by the JBD, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Zionist Federation of Australia and the Zionist Council of NSW.
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