News

An aerial view of the complex housing the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza City after an explosion on the hospital grounds that killed hundreds, according to Palestinian officials. Unraveling the facts behind the explosion has been made difficult because of swarms of social media accounts spreading false information about the explosion. Shadi Al-Tabatibi/AFP via Getty Images

During last week Israel was publicly accused of bombing a hospital in Gaza and killing 500 people.

Most but not all world leaders and media waited to hear the response to this accusation from Israel and the IDF.

As it turned out, Israel and the IDF claimed that the responsibility lay with Hamas or a Jihad group in Gaza.

The weapon that apparently landed in the hospital car park was a rocket fired from within Gaza and misfired.

Video images show the rocket, going upward, then blowing up and falling to the ground where the hospital is located. Other visual evidence also later proved the point.

While it is expected that Hamas will use almost any excuse to accuse Israel of atrocities, it is to be hoped that sensible leaders will not jump to conclusions and appear to believe what turn out to be false accusations.

The sophisticated technology that exists today can usually expose the truth or falsehood of military actions which target civilians as opposed to targeting terrorist installations or terrorists shielding behind civilian populations.

It is to be hoped that leaders, the media and the world at large will take a balanced approach to what is ahead in this very difficult crisis.

It is one in which Israel is having to take appropriate action to defend its population and rid the Middle East of barbaric terrorists who seem to delight in murdering Jewish women, children, and the elderly in peaceful communities.

On the part of Israel, this is not about taking revenge on a civilian population.

However we do know from past wars that very sadly civil populations sometimes do suffer even when everything is done to avoid civilian casualties and warn people to evacuate certain areas.

On the other hand, terrorist groups like Hamas and Jihad appear to have no qualms about putting civilians in harm’s way and will use them as human shields for their own protection.

Israel should not be expected to withstand the massacre of its civilian population by barbaric terrorists and the continuous deadly bombardment on its cities and communities by rockets fired from Gaza or anywhere else without a military response to defend and protect its people.

AM YISRAEL CHAI

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President
WUPJ Executive Board

The Melbourne Jewish community gathering at Caulfield Park on Shabbat 13/10 in support of Israel

Dear ARZA Australia Friends and Friends and Families of those in Israel. We mourn your loss.

There is so much to be said, but where to begin? Perhaps less is more!

We have all been traumatised by what we have seen and heard. I am not about to repeat the horror of the killing and torture. We know what has happened and we can’t imagine any human being doing such things to another human being.

We here in Australia are gathering to support our brothers and sisters and bring comfort where we can. We are raising funds to support those in need in Israel. We are calling friends and family to tell them we love them and wish them safety and security.

As we read the briefings and watch it all on our screens, we wonder how we can help to bring an end to it all.

We know there is nothing we can do to this end. We understand that Israel has to take action to end the threat from Hamas and any others wanting to rain terror on the Jewish State, that has every right to exist within secure borders.

Those attacking have never ceded this right, despite the United Nations and the world creating the ancient land of the Hebrews a Jewish State, providing a safe haven for the most persecuted people on earth – the Jews.

Our hearts ache for you. We understand your fear for the future and for your sons and daughters serving their country. At my Shul we gathered to sing the songs of Israel and Hatikvah, the ballad of hope. We sang it with all our hearts and tears in our eyes.

AM YISRAEL CHAI

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President
WUPJ Executive Board

The Progressive Movement of Australia including ARZA Australia, the Union of Progressive Judaism, and Progressive Judaism Victoria declares our strong support for the people of Israel as they face an unprecedented attack by Hamas on a holy day for Jews.

We stand with Israel, its citizens and the Israel Defence Forces.

With our Progressive Israel Appeal partners, the United Israel Appeal, we ask you to support the UIA Israel at War Appeal.

The funding will go to:

• Financial support for the Victims of Terror Fund;
• Provision of mobile bomb shelters;
• Relocating families out of danger; and
• Supporting displaced victims.

This is a practical and pro-active way to help the people of Israel in this difficult time.

Am Yisrael Chai,

Helen Shardey OAM
President of ARZA Australia

David D Knoll AM and Brian Samuel OAM
Co-Presidents of the Union for Progressive Judaism

Maureen Barten
President of Progressive Judaism Victoria