Media Coverage:
United with Israel
The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC), Australia’s leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms, has strongly criticised NSW Greens senator Lee Rhiannon for personally printing a poster for a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney that compared Israel’s policies to apartheid South Africa.
Dr Dvir Abramovich, Chairman of the ADC, issued the following statement:
“Senator Lee Rhiannon is wrong on all counts and should know better than to repeat this offensive slur that bears no resemblance to the realities of contemporary Israel. This loaded and inflammatory term been continuously employed by Israel’s detractors to delegitimize and demonise the Jewish state by arguing that it promotes the vile racial policies similar to those promulgated by the former apartheid government in South Africa. It is a shame that Senator Rhiannon has abandoned her objectivity and has become an unabashed spokesperson for the Palestinian cause. By peddling this canard, Senator Rhiannon is not contributing in any meaningful way to the prospect of peace between Israelis and Palestinians and her anti-Israel propaganda will only empower those wishing to fan the flames of division. In a region of dictatorships and theocracies, Israel has established one of the most robust and free democracies in the world, safeguarding the rights of Jews, Muslims and Christians, and ensuring that its Arab citizens enjoy full and equal rights before the law. Senator Rhiannon surely is aware that Israel does not favour an apartheid policy and has long accepted a two-state solution and self-determination for the Palestinians— trying to achieve this outcome through negotiations, territorial withdrawals and peace offers that clearly rebut any claims that Israel’s objective is to rule over the Palestinian population indefinitely, or to persecute and racially segregate them. I would remind Senator Rhiannon of the words of Justice Richard Goldstone who has maintained that accusing Israel of apartheid “is an unfair and inaccurate slander against Israel, calculated to retard rather than advance peace negotiations.” We call on Senator Rhiannon to apologise and to refrain from using such hurtful and thoughtless statements in the future.”
The Anti-Defamation Commission, founded in 1979, is Australia’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through educational programs that combat bigotry, prejudice and all forms of hatred.
For further information please contact Dr Dvir Abramovich on (03) 9272 5677
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or visit our website at antidef.org.au