News

Happy New year,

We are delighted about the news for the release of the hostages still kept in the tunnels of Gaza hopefully starting next week.it is believed that several dozens are still alive and their release is being prioritised (although the release of all would have been the preferred option).

For the past few months we have witnessed dramatic changes in the geo political landscape. The Iranian axis has received serious blows, including the Hizbollah defeat in Lebanon; the destruction of Iranian air defence systems and other critical infrastructure , leaving their nuclear facilities and oil industry vulnerable, and most recently, the collapse of the Assad regime – a key ally of Iran and Hizbollah. The Houties in Yemen are the only force still showing signs of aggression with two long range missiles hitting central Israeli cities in the past week or two.

The weakening of the Shiite axis, together with the harm caused to Hamas military capabilities, has narrowed the immediate threats Israel is facing on multiple fronts, with potential strategic opportunities for a shift in its relationship with key countries in the Suni Muslim world, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia.

On the other hand, we are seeing a growing risk for a radical Sunni axis. The new leader of Syria, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, is an ex-Al Qaeda Jihadist purporting to showcase a moderate side, yet considering his history, this is not a likely long-term, reliable presumption one can make. His emerging patron Turkey, led by a Muslim brotherhood loyalist (sharing the same religious extremist ideology as Qatar and Hamas ) could form another potential threat on the Israeli border that has been relatively quiet since the 1973 Yom Kippur war. Learning the lessons of October 7, Israel pre-emptively conquered the Syrian side of Mount Hermon and other parts of the Golan Heights to create a security buffer zone to protect from potential militia and terrorist groups that are currently spread across Syria. Countries like Jordan and Egypt are also keeping a close eye on potential threats to their internal stability, as well as the Kurds and Druze communities who are potential targets for attack by the new Syrian regime and it’s allies.

European countries are also reacting by considering the return of their many Syrian refugees

The Israeli government must navigate this changing landscape as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends his corruption trial 3 days a week. In addition to this, the Israeli coalition is continuing its legislative initiatives aimed at weakening certain pillars of the democratic system such as the judiciary, the police and the public prosecution.

We are also witnessing the Palestinian Authority returning its governance in cities like Jenin that have been a stronghold of Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists.

It remains to be seen whether Israel is going to attack the Iranian nuclear facilities or would a new nuclear deal will be signed following President’s trump inauguration and what alternative governance system can be established in Gaza to replace Hamas.

We are looking forward to seeing the hostages released and reunited with their families

Le’shalom

Ayal Marek

ARZA

President

UPJ Cp Vice president

As Progressive Zionists, we know that supporting a pluralist and egalitarian Israel is more important than ever post-October 7, and also because of the continued attempts to undermine Israeli democracy in the name of “judicial reforms”.

ARZA needs your membership to make sure we can effectively represent the Progressive values of democracy, social justice, human rights, equality for all, and religious pluralism at the World Zionist Congress in the face of growing opposition.

ARZA Australia will represent Australian Progressive Judaism and Progressive values at the World Zionist Congress to be held in 2025. Our delegates will team with Progressive delegates from around the world. The total number of Australian members of ARZA determines the number of votes we have at the Congress, where policies are debated and passed which effect the over $1 billion  allocated to programs in Israel and in the Diaspora.

Other streams are competing for promoting their values, many of which have a negative impact on what we believe in! Currently, religious-based parties supporting the growth of settlements in the West Bank and even in Gaza are recruiting members to their cause in the US and other Diaspora countries. They are building their voting blocks.

Many of you think you are members of ARZA but in fact are not, because your membership was not renewed either personally or through your synagogue!

Please join us to have our voice heard and make a real difference. We urge you to join now by clicking below. ARZA membership is only $1 until 30 December.

To join, please CLICK HERE.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, arsonists attacked the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.

Over the past 14 months we have seen continuous acts of incitement to violence, hate speech, intimidation, boycotting and cancellation targeted at Jewish community members.

It seems that apart from rhetorical condemnation, law enforcement was minimal to non-existent.

At ARZA we have been alerting to the risk of escalation and that lack of enforcement  of legislation regarding hate speech and incitement to violence  sends the wrong signal of tolerance to such activities.

This in turn, leads to further escalation and physical violence. Therefore, we continue to call on all governments and law enforcement agencies to go beyond rhetoric and ensure enforcement of the law for the protection of the community and to avoid deterioration to violence which would be the inevitable outcome should the policy of appeasement continue.

This is coming on the back of repetitive alerts from the Jewish community and organisations – alerts that have not been taken seriously.

The Prime Minister recognised that this recent attack is an act of antisemitism, yet it is not clear what is actually being done to deter current and future perpetrators from conducting such acts of violence and intimidation.

ARZA stands strong with the Jewish community and indeed with the Australian community at large. We call to move from rhetoric to action to protect our social cohesion which is evidently at risk.
Ayal Marek
President ARZA
Co VP UPJ