Australian Jews Speak Out Against 'Slaughter Of Innocents'

11 Aug 2014

By Chris Graham

164 Australian Jews have signed an open letter condemning Israel's assault on Gaza. Chris Graham reports.

More than 150 Jewish Australians have signed an open letter urging their fellow Jews to “end the silence” over the “slaughter of innocents” in Gaza by Israel.

The letter, organised by Vivienne Porzsolt of ‘Jews against the Occupation’, calls on all Australian Jews to take a public stand against the “brutal occupation of the Palestinians by Israel”, which is “being done in our name”.

In a written statement accompanying the letter, Porzsolt said many Australian Jews were appalled by the actions of Israel.

“The outrage that all people of humanity feel at the conduct of the State of Israel against the Palestinians can too easily be directed to Jews in general,” Porzsolt wrote.

“As we have seen with the ugly cartoon by Le Lievre and the antisemitic attack on the Jewish children on a Bondi bus, old antisemitic tropes re-emerge, fuelled by the atrocities committed by Israel.

“No racism, including antisemitism, is ever excusable. However, the Jewish community leadership promotes the identification of Jews with Israel and all its actions.

“They label Jewish critics of Israel as ‘self-hating’ and ‘not real Jews’. They debase the charge of antisemitism by applying it to all criticism of Israel. It is not surprising then that some may hold Jews in general responsible for Israel's actions.”

The letter is headed ‘An Appeal From Australian Jews to the Australian Jewish Community’ and the group includes doctors and professors, former politicians, writers, Order of Australia winners, educators, artists and academics.

It reads: “As Australians of Jewish identity and background, we are appalled at the current mass killing in Gaza by Israel. We reject the official mythology that Israel is under existential threat and acting in self-defence,” the letter reads.

“Since July 12, the Israeli army has killed more than 1,900 people in Gaza. Hospitals, schools, beaches, playgrounds – even UN shelters have been attacked.

“The whole world has reacted with horror and outrage.

“In the face of the destruction of so many lives, we cannot remain silent while the official Jewish leadership gives such active support to Israel's attack on Gaza.

“Their decision to stand with the oppressor rather than the oppressed is a betrayal of our history and values, when authentic moral leadership is more important than ever.

“Siege, occupation, the slaughter of innocents and collective punishment of an entire people are deeply wrong and unlawful.

“Yet the Jewish leadership uncritically promulgates the propaganda of the Israeli government that this is self-defence.

“They are failing to represent and serve the Jewish community.

“Silence is consent and evil triumphs when good people do nothing.

“We call on our fellow Jews to break their silence, to take a public stand, not just for an immediate cease-fire, but for an end to the underlying conditions of siege and occupation which defy elementary morality, decency and humanity, as well as international and humanitarian law.”

Below is the list of Australian Jews who have signed the letter. Porzsolt said other Australian Jews were welcome to attach their signature. You can get more details at the Jews Against The Occupation website.

1. Kate Alway

2. Dr Eran Asoulin

3. Willy Bach, peace researcher and poet

4. Dr Peter Balint

5. Dr Tony Balint

6. Judy Bamburger, management consultant

7. Sivan Barak, student

8. Dr Ditta Bartels, retired CEO, Inphaze

9. Somerset Bean, graphic designer

10. Alice Beauchamp

11. Lyn Bender, psychologist, writer

12. Robyn Bersten, professional researcher

13. David Bilander, engineer/analyst

14. Dr Geoffrey Binder, lecturer/tutor

15. Paul Blay, landscape architect

16. Dr Barbara Bloch

17. Alfiah Blond, nutritional medicine practitioner

18. Simon Blond, university lecturer

19. Karen Bloomberg, speech pathologist

20. Leah Bloomfield, education advisor

21. Professor John Bradley, Monash University

22. Jacki Braw

23. Mariann Brull

24. Michael Brull

25. Angela Budai,union official

26. Jenny Bush, retired rehabilitation counsellor

27. Susie Carleton

28. Su Carter, administration officer

29. Dr Barry Carr, historian

30. Martin Chanock, emeritus professor of law, La Trobe University

31. Associate Professor Peter Christoff, University of Melbourne

32. Ruth Clemens, retired secondary school teacher

33. Harry Cohen, AM

34. Ian Cohen, former MLC, NSW Parliament

35. Leone Cohen

36. Rachael Collinson, former journalist

37. Max Corden AC

38. Piera Dennerstein

39. Anneke Deutsch, retired prosthetist

40. Dr John Docker, writer

41. Janet Doherty

42. Dr Sara Dowse, author

43. Alec Drummond, library worker

44. Linda Eisler, former Councillor, Canterbury LMA

45. Nicole Ehrlich, research psychologist

46. Dr Marietta Elliott-Kleerkoper, writer, language consultant

47. Marsh Emerman, lecturer in film and TV

48. Harry Feldman

49. Naima Fine

50. Dr Michelle Fink, medical specialist

51. Corinne Fisher, professional educator, sustainability

52. Lee Flax, retired lecturer, Macquarie University

53. Gabrielle Flax

54. Professor Steve Frenkel

55. Nadia Fried, musician, teacher

56. Bonnie Gelman

57. Dr Guy Gillor, public health researcher

58. Dr Hal Ginges

59. Sandra Glasbeek, retired civil servant

60. Penelope Glass, theatre worker

61. Jack Grey

62. Joseph Halevi, senior lecturer, University of Sydney

63. Gaskell M Harris, former lecturer, computer science

64. David Heilpern LLB LLM

65. Davey Heller, bushland regeneration worker

66. David Hermolin, lead union organiser

67. Tim Hollo, musician and activist

68. Janine Israel

69. John Jacobs, actor, lecturer

70. Professor Keith Jacobs, University of Tasmania

71. Margaret Jacobs

72. Max Kaiser

73. Dr David Kaye, psychiatrist

74. John Kaye, Greens NSW MP

75. Margaret Kaye, Feldenkrais practitioner

76. Dr Rick Kuhn, adjunct reader in Sociology, Australian National University

77. Sarah Lay, retired public school teacher

78. Melanie Lazarow, student

79. Sue Leigh, activist and former counselor

80. Michael Lever, archeologist and cultural heritage advisor

81. Dr David Levy

82. Dr Gary Levy, educator, researcher

83. Rachel Liebhaber

84. Professor G J Lindell AM

85. Ian Lisser, union activist

86. Antony Loewenstein, independent journalist, author, Guardian columnist

87. Jackie Lublin

88. Dr Terry Lustig, environmental and water engineer

89. Margo McKelvie

90. Laurie Izaks McSween

91. Jonathan Maltz, counsellor

92. Miriam Margolyes, actress

93. Dennis Martin

94. Leon Medalia

95. Stefan Moore, film maker

96. Associate Professor Alan Morris, University of Technology, Sydney

97. Martin Munz

98. Haskell Musry, Occupational Health and Safety Consultant

99. Liam Neame, academic

100. Dr Ian Neering, retired Associate Professor, University of NSW

101. Joan Nestle, retired Associate Professor, CUNY

102. Sharmila Nezovic

103. Alex Nissen, educator

104. Jacqui Nissim, union organiser

105. Rod Oaten, retired school teacher

106. Judith O'Conal-Prinz, professional portrait painter

107. Dennis Oppenheim, retired insurance broker

108. Sandra Padova, lesbian social justice advocate

109. Dr Tamas Pataki, author and retired lecturer, University of Melbourne

110. Cathy Peters, ABC Radio National producer

111. Tim Petterson, Campaigns and Communications Director

112. Dr Annie Pettit

113. Dr Annie Pfingst, research fellow

114. Abe Pogos, script writer

115. Vivienne Porzsolt, spokesperson, Jews against the Occupation

116. Richard Raber, film-maker

117. Adjunct Associate Professor Karl Reed

118. Michelle Reiner, customer service administrator

119. Andrew Riemer

120. Marilyn Rister

121. Susan Rosedale, teacher

122. Deborah Rosenberg

123. Les Rosenblatt

124. David Rothfiled

125. Pamela J Rothfield

126. Paul Rubner, retired librarian

127. Dr Jen Runds

128. Jay Rutovitz, energy consultant

129. Margot Salom, researcher

130. Kim Sattler, secretary, Unions ACT

131. Daniel Saks

132. Sol Salbe, journalist

133. Yvette Scholtmeyer, editor

134. John Seed, OAM

135. Debra Shulkes, editor

136. Regina Sigal, madam

137. Dr Ben Silverstein, lecturer, University of NSW

138. Dr Jordy Silverstein, historian, University of Melbourne

139. Esther Singer, vegetable farmer

140. Deborah Singerman, editor, writer, project management consultant

141. Associate Professor Peter Slezak, University of NSW

142. Dr David Slucki

143. Dr Sue Starfield

144. Norman Sterling

145. Dr Larry Stillman

146. David Stockman

147. Lanie Stockman

148. Dr Marcelo Svirsky, lecturer, University of Wollongong

149. Anna Tambour

150. Robin Taubenfeld, teacher and community organiser

151. Leah Thomas, student

152. Fred Tropp-Asher, retired IT project manager

153. Robyn Unger, public servant

154. Susan Varga, author

155. Shobha Varkey

156. Avril Vorsay, researcher, translator, performer

157. Peter Walton, self-employed

158. Jamie Walvisch, university lecturer

159. Dr David Weatherell, honorary fellow in history, Deakin University

160. George Winston AM

161. Dr N D Witton

162. Dr Ron Witton

163. Sandra Goldbloom Zurbo, editor and author

164. Dr David Zyngier, senior lecturer, Monash University