The Australia–Israel connection

That Australia Day we marked last week also had celebratory echoes in Israel reminded me that historically Australia played significant roles in bringing about the very existence of our state.

To begin, Australia had a significant share in the events that brought about the very existence of the British Mandate. 1916-17 saw Australian troops initially based in Egypt play a major part in the northwards advance through Sinai, culminating in the events at Beersheba and Gaza in October/November 1917 and the capture of Yerushalayim in December. Largely as a result of these events and subsequent northwards troop movements until the Armistice came into effect, Britain was able to claim the Mandate that incorporated in its documentation fulfilment of the intent of the Balfour Declaration. To this day the capture of Beersheba is commemorated annually by Australia and Israel working in conjunction.

During World War II, Australian troops were once again stationed in Palestine. And while the Yishuv was far from happy with the British who by that time had shown clear favour towards Arab aims rather than those of the Zionist Jews, Australians were much more highly regarded. While I was involved with a UIA project in Rishon l’Zion in the 1980s, the then mayor, himself a native of the city, told us how he welcomed Australian involvement in projects in his city because he recalled the kindness and consideration shown to residents including children like himself, by the Australian soldiers stationed at the base then known as Sarafand – more recently as Tzrifin.

Thirdly, it was Dr Herbert Vere Evatt, Minister of External Affairs to the Curtin and Chifley governments (1941-49), who is remembered for his service as president of the United Nations General Assembly and chair of its Ad Hoc Committee on Palestine, a position he used to promote Zionism and the partition of Palestine thereby creating the legal basis for the establishment of our modern Jewish State of Israel

Of course since that time, (except for the interlude of the Whitlam Labor government of 1972-5) successive Australian prime ministers and their governments have generally been supportive of Israel including through the medium of their voting power at the United Nations. Particularly notable in that regard – but certainly not unique – were prime ministers Bob Hawke and John Howard who as I recently wrote have had their names perpetuated in Israel by forests planted in their honour. Our current government has perpetuated that relationship. And high level visits in both directions have long been a feature of the Australia–Israel relationship.

But political connections aside there is so much in contemporary Israel that relates to Australia.

At least three generations of olim have made Israel their permanent home; they and their descendants maintain a connection.

There are the substantial numbers of youth from across the community who under normal circumstances not impacted by COVID spend their “Shnat” in yeshivot or seminaries or in programs of varying lengths of time organised by the various youth groups – programs that will hopefully now recommence.

Even as they return to Australia the relationship between both countries is enhanced. So many significant buildings in universities, hospitals and elsewhere, have been built through Australian philanthropy. Scientific institutions and industry in both countries cooperate – witness the cooperation over water resources and other work relating to arid environments that Australia and Israel have in common. And despite the distance, except as interrupted by COVID, tourism has flourished; the percentage of Australian Jews who visit Israel is substantially greater than the percentage of American Jewry who do so.

Beyond all that however, simple Australian elements are entrenched into the Israeli scene. I vividly recall on my first visit to Israel walking out of the old airport and seeing a massive eucalyptus tree in front of me. In 1963, Naomi Shemer, often hailed as the “first lady of Israeli song and poetry, composed Hurshat Ha’Eucalyptus (The Eucalyptus Grove), a song that evokes Kvutzat Kinneret where she was born. Eucalyptus trees were there because eucalypts were originally brought to Israel after World War I as part of anti-malarial initiatives around the Hula suggested by Australian troops who spent time in the north. They were useful for drying out the swamps, thereby significantly reducing mosquito breeding sites and hence reducing the risk of malaria which had been a significant problem since the pioneering days.

And of course a particularly significant element of the contemporary relationship between our two countries – exemplified by this week’s front-page story of the Gandel Foundation’s record breaking donation to Hadassah for a Rehabilitation Centre – is the extent of major philanthropic contributions to major Israeli institutions. All such contributions even at a lesser scale, taken in conjunction with project-related fundraising by the JNF and UIA that allow every Australian Jew to contribute, ensure that Australia will continue to be in the forefront of the consciousness of Israel and world Jewry

Yes, Australian influence is to be found across the country. May we all be able to visit again very soon.

Shabbat shalom,
Yossi

Yossi Aron OAM is The AJN’s religious affairs editor and (in normal times) a frequent visitor to Israel.