Australia backs Israel at the UN
SCOTT Morrison's government has received kudos from the Jewish community for its stand against a spate of anti-Israel resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
SCOTT Morrison’s government has received kudos from the Jewish community for its stand against a spate of anti-Israel resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
Although the five resolutions condemning Israel ultimately passed, Australia was the only nation that voted against all five, as neither Israel nor the US sit on the UNHRC. Australia also voted against a one-sided UNHRC report that condemned Israel for its defence measures in Gaza.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) commended Canberra for taking the lead among nations with its vote against all of the anti-Israel resolutions tabled under the UNHRC’s agenda item 7, the only agenda item devoted to condemning a specific country.
ECAJ co-CEO Alex Ryvchin stated, “We are pleased that a growing number of European and South American nations are now following the leadership and moral clarity of Australia by opposing these egregious resolutions both in word and in deed.”
Lauding “principled leadership” from the PM and from Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said, “It’s no surprise but nevertheless disappointing that these biased and one-sided resolutions were passed at the UNHRC. Once again, Australia has shown clear moral leadership on the world stage, voting against these resolutions and against UNHRC standing agenda item 7 – a recurring Israel-bashing item.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said, “Australia has demonstrated moral leadership in its consistent, principled opposition to the institutionalised bias inflicted on Israel at the UNHRC. These resolutions are merely used as a crude political tool to condemn Israel on the international stage, and make no genuine contribution towards peace and stability for Israelis and Palestinians.”
PETER KOHN
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