Sderot media head visiting Australia
THE director of the Sderot Media Centre, Noam Bedein, is in Australia this week to speak about the difficulties of living in the southern Israeli town.
AJN STAFF
THE director of the Sderot Media Centre, Noam Bedein, is in Australia this week to speak about the difficulties of living in the southern Israeli town.
Bedein, 26, relocated to the small town following his military service and took charge of the Sderot Media Centre, which generates awareness around the world about the situation in Sderot.
The focus of Bedein’s job is to provide briefings for visiting foreign diplomats, officials and student groups.
However, he was also recently involved in the United Nations fact-finding mission in Gaza.
The mission, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, is investigating human rights violations in the war earlier this year.
Bedein testified before the mission last month and concluded his speech: “I do not have enough fingers to count on my hands the amount of times rockets exploded just a few metres from a kindergarten. Would any other western democracy in the world tolerate even one rocket being fired towards their territory?”
He added: “Why is it that we must wait until a kindergarten, or classroom packed with children, is struck directly by a rocket in order for Israel to gain international support to protect and do what is right for our own people?”
Bedein was one of a number of Israelis who travelled to Switzerland to testify. The father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit was also in the delegation.
He reported feeling anxious before testifying -— “knowing that there would be only 30 minutes to convey how aerial terror has devastatingly impacted the civilian population of Sderot”.
But he said he was pleased to be part of one of the first Israeli delegations invited to tell their story in Geneva.
“This time, the UN provided an opportunity for ordinary people from Israel to make their voices heard across the world. It was an honour as a resident of Sderot to partake in such an event,” he said.
Bedein will peak at Beth Weizmann in Melbourne on Tuesday, August 11 at 8pm and at the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia in Woollahra on Thursday, August 13, 7.30pm. Melbourne enquiries (03) 9272 5544. Sydney enquiries (02) 9360 6300.