Young pollies report back

A YOUNG political leaders’ mission to Israel has returned home with interesting insights, which they shared with a small group in Sydney last month.

The group comprised 15 participants, split between Liberal and Labor, and for the most part, non-Jewish.

This is the second time this mission has run, launched in 2013 by Joshua Koonin, a lawyer and former political adviser who sought to bring politically-minded people to Israel to gain a better understanding of the political issues that Israel faces.

From six Liberal delegates on the inaugural mission, Koonin noted that it grew this time to encompass both sides of politics, as well as growing in numbers.

Over 10 days in Israel, the group heard from high-profile speakers, met with members of Knesset, visited an IDF base and Israeli settlements.

A gathering to hear the participants’ impressions of the region heard from Louise Easson, senior media officer for the Transport Workers Union and former press secretary to Bob Carr.

“I am someone who is passionate about foreign affairs. I’ve been to Israel before. I read a lot, and consider myself pretty up to date with foreign affairs. And yet I learnt so much on this trip,” Easson insisted.

“When you talk about a two-state solution, and splitting Jerusalem, you realise how hard that would be when you’ve got the one building. How do you build a border security site through a religious site that’s important to two peoples?” she asked.

She said understanding both sides is something which applies in politics – in her case, appreciating the Liberal perspective – as much as it is critical to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

“It’s understanding each other’s narratives, how we view the world, how they view the world, and understanding each other … I think that’s the best way to peace.”

Jacqui Munro, an adviser at Malcolm Turnbull’s office, said the experience was particularly valuable to her, with Turnbull’s Wentworth electorate being so highly concentrated with Jewish constituents.

Like Easson, she was surprised by how much she learnt being on the ground, describing the experience as “eye-opening”.

“I think understanding why Israel exists, and the depth of feeling that Jewish people have for the land and the connection with each other is much more understandable to me now,” Munro said.

“Even though there’s a lot more to learn.”

For more information on eligibility for this program, contact Joshua Koonin at joshua.koonin@gmail.com.

PHOEBE ROTH

The group at the Kotel.