Victorian MPs’ ‘life-changing’ visit to Israel
AIJAC’s Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein AM introduced the speakers, calling attention to the grave uncertainty that Israel finds itself in.
“Life-changing”, “moving” and “enlightening” were some of the ways six Victorian State Liberal MPs recent participants in AIJAC’s Rambam Fellowship Program described their recent visit to Israel at a luncheon for AIJAC supporters in Melbourne on June 27.
Member for Caulfield David Southwick spearheaded the group, which included David Davis, Member for Southern Metropolitan Region, Trung Luu, Member for Western Metropolitan Region, James Newbury, Member for Brighton, Renee Heath, Member for Eastern Victoria Region and Chris Crewther, Member for Mornington. The AIJAC liaison was Jamie Hyams OAM.
AIJAC’s Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein AM introduced the speakers, calling attention to the grave uncertainty that Israel finds itself in, and how the importance of the Rambam program is especially during wartime.
Since Hamas’ attack on October 7 of last year, Rambam participants have had the opportunity to pay their respects and see firsthand the devastation in Gaza border kibbutzim. They were also given the opportunity to view the 47-minute uncensored video “Bearing Witness” which was assembled from body cameras of Hamas terrorists who carried out the attacks and some security camera footage – the memory of which brought one participant, and all the AIJAC supporters in attendance, to the brink of tears.
The group spoke of the remarkable resilience they saw in the Israeli people during their trip, the strength of the families of the hostages they met in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, and how much they learned about Israel generally and the Jews and non-Jews that make it their home.
As with every Rambam group, they also had a chance to spend time in Jerusalem and visit the Dead Sea, as well as have a meeting with Palestinian Authority officials in the West Bank, and survey the situation there.
Speaking along with the Victorian MPs was National Weekend Political Editor for News Ltd James Campbell, who had himself just returned from a journalists’ Rambam group led by AIJAC’s Executive Manager Joel Burnie.
For Campbell, it was his second time to Israel as a Rambam participant – the first time over a decade ago – and he spoke of the difference of seeing the country mobilized during wartime and how the war being waged on Israel’s borders is related to a much bigger challenge to the West at play by actors like Iran, Russia, and to an extent China and North Korea as well.
Burnie’s vote of thanks saluted the participants as well as Rambam’s donors, who make the success of the program possible.
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