News and Events

Protesters in central Tel Aviv, on Monday. Credit: Or Adar

As Israel seems to be enveloped in crisis, many of us have been watching the thousands of brave, determined, pro-democracy freedom marchers make their way in the hot Israeli summer heat by road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Their mission is to loudly demonstrate against the outrageous drive by the Netanyahu extremist government to remove the very protection offered by the Supreme Court against legislation that is not reasonable, just, or in the interest of the nation.

That it should happen at this very time of Jewish mourning, remembering the destruction of the Second Temple, on the eve of Tisha b’Av, speaks volumes about the arrogance and lack of caring by the very people who have the responsibility to ensure the land of the Jewish people can exist in peace and harmony.

And we recall and reflect that what led to the destruction of the Second Temple was the result of “sinat hinam (baseless hatred), born of religious extremism and intolerance” that led to political and economic destruction at the time.

With the passing of the key judicial overhaul law revoking the Supreme Court’s authority by the Netanyahu Coalition government, it may be too late to reflect on the lessons of past Jewish history. Let us pray that history does not repeat itself.

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

Last Sunday’s protest in the rain

For those of you who live in Melbourne Australia, you will recall that last Sunday morning was cold, raining, and miserable.

Yet on a well-known corner, just outside the local park in Caulfield, a group gathered to express their deep concern about the policies of the Netanyahu Coalition government in Israel. Policies which they believe are a threat to the democracy and the concept of pluralism and equality in Eretz Yisrael.

You might say “what’s that got to do with Australia or Australians, Jewish or not? You enjoy a western democracy with freedom of speech and a multicultural society. So why do you care about what’s happening in Israel, a country on the other side of the world, with its own democratically elected government?

Well, the thing is, we do care. Israel is the miracle that gave the post holocaust world a home for the Jewish people. A place to call “their own”. A place where being Jewish is not a crime or something not to be proud of. A place that according to its Declaration of Independence will provide freedom and equality for all.

Yet the current Coalition Government of Israel is going down the path of overhauling the Judiciary and thereby denying freedom and equality for all. Further, the government has foreshadowed legislation which will deny the equal rights of women and those of the LGBTQ community.

And the further concern is that the government sanctioned actions of settlers in the West Bank, it is believed, will put the opportunity for peace with the Palestinians at risk. This is not a proven outcome, but a serious risk.

I joined the gathering last Sunday near the park with my umbrella and wearing a warm coat. I was with my two miniature Dachshund dogs who were wearing their raincoats and seemed to rather like being around the crowd and hearing the speeches.

I was proud that we in Australia had heard the call from Israel for an emergency protest last weekend. With the Coalition Government pressing the button to proceed with the legislation to abolish the “Reasonableness Doctrine as part of the Judicial overhaul, we were asked to be part of the intensifying struggle in Isael, by joining the international initiative to demonstrate. The voice of protest in the Diaspora is growing louder and we in Australia should be part of it.

Am Yisrael Chai

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President

Israelis attend a protest against the government’s judicial overhaul plans, in Tel Aviv, on June 17. Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90

The Jewish people’s parliament, formally known as the World Zionist Congress with representatives from all over the Diaspora and Israel, has sent a strong message to the Netanyahu government in support of the huge number of Israelis opposed to its judicial overhaul policies and other legislation aimed at further discrimination against women, secular Israelis, the LGBTIQ community and Liberal/Reform/Conservative streams of Judaism in Israel today.

The resolutions presented to the Extraordinary World Zionist Congress that were supported by a majority of online voters were resolutions which:
• Called on the Netanyahu government not to amend the Law of Return,
• Sought the withdrawal of legislation against links between LGBTIQ communities in Israel and the Jewish Diaspora,
• Opposed Conservative and Reform conversions being revoked by Ultra-Orthodox authorities, and
• Called for the withdrawal of legislation to overhaul the judiciary.

The in-person Congress held in April attempted to vote on these anti-government resolutions but were stopped by the right-wing delegates using deliberate moves to delay the vote, which eventually did not take place.

The decision to offer all delegates, even those who were not in attendance in Jerusalem the opportunity to vote on these resolutions really backfired on the right-wing delegates who were trying to out-manoeuvre the non-Orthodox parties.

As a delegate representing ARZA Australia, I was not able to be in Israel at the time of the Congress but finished up voting online from Australia with the three other ARZA Australia delegates.

My later visit to Israel to attend the Connections conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism confirmed the sense of divisiveness in Israeli society resulting from the current government’s threatened judicial overhaul and other legislation which would serve to destroy any sense of equality for Israeli society.

With each weekend I was in Jerusalem, the talk among so many was about attending the protest meetings on Saturday night after havdalah. There was a sense of real sadness, that Israel, the miracle of the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael, had been reduced to so much fear. That the democratic state that had achieved so much and that Israelis are so proud of would dissolve into a theocracy and a nation of extremes.

I was pleased to be invited to the residence of the Israeli President Isaac Herzog during my stay with a group from the WUPJ and IMPJ. While it would be improper to quote the President, he did voice his concern over the tension in Israel and talked of his attempts to negotiate an agreement with all parties. One can only hope that he will be successful.

However, my own impression is that with the passing of the budget the PM has felt empowered to move ahead with some of the Ultra-Orthodox policies, which at the end of the day could save him from facing legal proceedings. However, even this looks doubtful, as today it was reported that the Israeli prosecution is demanding that Netanyahu step down if he is wanting a plea deal.

He is really in an almost impossible position. Those ultra-rightwing parties Netanyahu has been forced into coalition with, and who support a judicial overhaul that he will benefit from, seem to think they can demand almost anything, even that which is abhorrent to the nation. How does he say “no”? And how does he put off the judicial overhaul while supposedly negotiating with the President and Opposition parties?

It is my impression that this could all end up badly for a man who in his early days as the Prime Minister of Israel displayed so much strength and skill. He doesn’t seem to be the leader he was. I don’t think he now inspires. He may have to see the writing on the wall and do what is right for the sake of democracy and for the sake of Eretz Yisrael.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Delegates at the WUPJ Connections conference visit the Knesset. Photo: Facebook

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President