Joint Statement by the Jewish Progressive Movement of Australia supporting the ZFA and ECAJ in criticising the new position of the Australian Government in relation to Israel.
The Union for Progressive Judaism, the Australian Reform Zionist Association and the Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors today announced their support for the joint statement by the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry in condemning the Australian Government’s decision to “harden its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The joint public statement said the Australian Government’s language was inaccurate, ahistorical and counterproductive, pre-empting the outcome of negotiations between the parties and final status issues.
The statement suggested that “the Labor leadership ought to push back against factions within Labor, and instead work to re-establish a sensible, centrist and sustainable bipartisan position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict must not become a political football”.
The Progressive Movement of Australia agrees with this statement in its entirety and urges the Australian Government to heed the advice given.
Helen Shardey OAM
President, Australian Reform Zionist Association
David Knoll AM and Brian Samuel OAM
Co-Presidents, Union for Progressive Judaism
Rabbi Allison Conyer
Chair, Assembly of Rabbis and Cantors of Australia, New Zealand and Asia