True bonds that stand the test of time
Beyond governments and headlines, Australia and Israel share true bonds built on history, courage and hope.
At a time when many in our community are dissatisfied with our current government’s dealings with and support for Israel, it’s important to be reminded that the relationship between our countries runs much deeper than contemporary politics.
It is woven through more than a century of shared history.
This week, we report on the 108th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Beersheba, where Indigenous advocate and former senator Nova Peris and Australian Colonel Michael Scott joined Israeli and Australian dignitaries to commemorate a victory by Australian Light Horsemen that proved pivotal in the events leading up to the Balfour Declaration and the resurrection of Jewish sovereignty in our ancient homeland.
Australia’s military connection to the land that would become Israel doesn’t end there, with the Zion Mule Corps having fought alongside Australian troops in other theatres during World War I. In 1947, Australian foreign minister Doc Evatt played a crucial role in UN Resolution 181, which preceded the creation of the modern State of Israel.
Meanwhile, the Australian Jewish community’s connection to Israel has only strengthened since October 7, 2023.
Melbourne’s Gandel family exemplifies this commitment. In the wake of that dark day and the ensuing war, the Gandel Rehabilitation Centre at Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus is saving lives and restoring hope to wounded soldiers and civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu described it as “not just a building” but “a foundation of hope, a foundation of resilience, of tomorrow”.
Meanwhile, Peris is not a lone First Nations voice standing up for Israel. Munganbana Norman Miller, an Aboriginal artist and co-founder of Indigenous Friends of Israel, will present a custom boomerang to the Israeli government, a gift that carries profound meaning: recognition of one indigenous people by another, an acknowledgement of shared struggles and the right to belong to ancestral lands.
Our community has endured a fraught two years. Amongst the litany of challenges we have endured, it is important to focus on the positives and take pride in our connections. And in an era when Australia-Israel relations face external pressures and internal debates, these stories also remind us that genuine bonds aren’t easily broken.