Checkpoint Zero (Antony Loewesnstein blog, 16/08/08)
In this sixtieth anniversary of the Jewish state’s birth, it’s more timely than ever to publicly discuss what is going on. A new play, Checkpoint Zero, currently showing in Sydney, is one such example of this process.
How to lose Jewish friends in one easy step (Antony Loewenstein blog, 09/08/08)
Naomi Ragen is a prominent American-Israeli writer and playwright about to visit Melbourne for the writer’s festival. She is a typical, radical Zionist who believes that “terrorists” should be killed by the Jewish state. “We need to kill these people”, she told the Sydney Morning Herald today.
Don’t dare slam the holy Jewish state (Antony Loewenstein blog, 24/07/08)
Israel the aggressor must accept reasonable and unbiased criticism (Sydney Morning Herald, 23/07/08)
An Op-Ed by Antony Loewenstein in the SMH.
Author calls for economic sanctions against Israel (Australian Jewish News/Antony Loewenstein blog, 02/06/08)
An article from the Australian Jewish News, with added discussion.
Don’t meet/speak/hang out with dissident Jews (Antony Loewenstein Blog, 21/05/08)
Discusses the Australian Jewish News' article that says that "A decision by Jewish university students to invite outspoken Israel critic Antony Loewenstein [and UNSW philosophy lecturer Peter Slezak] held at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) has angered some community members."
Ali Abunimah in Australia (Antony Loewenstein blog, 16/05/08)
Rudd government reignites campaign against Iranian president (Crikey, 15/05/08)
The Israeli Diaspora soul-searching (On Line Opinion, 15/04/08)
During Israel’s recent bombardment of Gaza, the Australian Jewish establishment reacted with unreserved support. Israel’s leading human rights organisation B’Tselem reported that the majority of Palestinian victims of the onslaught were civilians.
From Australia to Canada with love (Antony Loewenstein blog, 13/04/08)
When Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV) launched in 2007, we were accused of being “self-styled radicals” and dangerous... /Now, a group of Canadian Jews are raising their voices against Israeli policies and experiencing a similar response...
Some people are more occupied than others (The Age, 11/04/08)
A letter in today’s Age newspaper simply explains Kevin Rudd’s selective belief in human rights.
Israel is taking all the right steps along the pathway to peace (The Age, 07/04/08)
THE path to peace in the Middle East is a tortuous one. Israel and the Palestinian Authority are working together with great difficulty to establish an Israel and a Palestine living side by side together in peace... writes Danny Lamm (president of the State Zionist Council of Victoria).
The Zionist land grabs go on (The Age, 01/04/08)
These letters appeared in The Age on the day after the Op-Ed piece by Peter Slezak and Antony Loewenstein.
Dissent, Not Disloyalty (AJN, 21/03/08)
A letter to the Australian Jewish News by Peter Slezak, James Levy, and Antony Loewenstein.
Our “passionately pro Israel” PM throws compassion out the window (Crikey, 13/03/08)
Why I won't be celebrating 60 years of Israel (Unleashed, 13/03/08)
The hardest word (Haaretz, 19/02/08)
Rudd's apology acknowledged the "profound grief, suffering and loss" inflicted on the Aboriginal people but no Jewish leaders seem capable of considering similar sentiments towards the Palestinians.
Jewish voices discord after Israel ad (The Australian, 15/03/08)
A PRO-PALESTINIAN advertisement protesting against parliament's motion in support of Israel has divided members of a Jewish group critical of Israeli national policy.
Complicit in silence (The Guardian, 08/02/08)
From far away in Australia, Israel is often viewed as a 'plucky country', but the dangers of the situation are hard to miss
Statement by the Australian Palestinian community (Ethics Update, 30/12/07)
No peace in Israel-Palestine (The Age, 05/12/07)
By Michael Shaik and Antony Loewenstein
A Rudd Government - 'passionately pro-Israel?' (Online Opinion, 04/12/07)
Roof body to flex its muscle says new leader (Australian Jewish News, 29/11/07)
New ECAJ [Executive Council of Australian Jewry] president Robert Goot is proposing a "four-way accommodation" between Australia's leading Jewish organisations.
Open Letter: Australia’s role in the blockade of Gaza (Jews Against the Occupation - Sydney, 18/11/07)
An open letter sent to Australia’s Prime Minister John Howard, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, the Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Rudd, and the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Robert McLelland, on 16 November 2007 .
The Rudd Delusion (New Matilda, 30/10/07)
Courting the Jewish vote (Crikey, 25/10/07)
The fight for the Federal seat of Wentworth is between the self-appointed, Honorary Jew (Malcolm Turnbull) and the proudly Zionist, True Jew (George Newhouse.)
The Jewish backlash that wasn't (Sydney Morning Herald, 05/10/07)
In May, the Council of Progressive Rabbis of Australia, New Zealand and Asia ratified commitment ceremonies for Jewish gay and lesbian couples. The details will be finalised at a meeting at the end of this month. By next year, same-sex couples will enjoy the privilege of life-long feuds over who sat where at the reception. Writes Dawn Cohen.
Howard and Rudd show their love for Israel (Crikey, 02/10/07)
Before every federal election, Australia’s leading Zionist lobby, Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), poses questions to the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. In 2004, both John Howard and Mark Latham discussed Israel, the UN, Iraq, terrorism and immigration.
This year AIJAC has again engaged the leaders and the answers reveal two men determined to outdo the other in terms of displaying uncritical love for the Jewish state and toughness in the “war on terror.” Writes Antony Loewenstein.
Local Jewish leaders warn off Labor’s “anti-Israel ratbags” (antonyloewenstein.com, 21/09/07)
Self-hate or Glasnost? (New Matilda Magazine, 18/09/07)
The Jewish Diaspora’s connection to Israel is on the wane, writes Antony Loewenstein, to the point that many younger Jews no longer care if it continues to exist.
Palestinian terror and Israeli nobility (Online Opinion, 24/08/07)
“The release of My Israel Question in August 2006, at the height of Israel’s war against Hezbollah, was always guaranteed to generate divergent opinions. It had become sadly predictable that challenging the Jewish state’s actions and morality resulted in hateful correspondence.” Writes Antony Loewenstein.
Calling IAJV’s bluff (Australian Jewish News, 28/06/07)
CANBERRA CONFIDENTIAL: JASON FRENKEL'S ELECTION BLOG “ Antony Loewenstein's Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV) has fallen silent.”
Letters to the Australian Jewish News (30/03/07)
Includes 'Speaking Out', Peter Slezak's (UNSW) letter.
Freedom of speech (Australian Jewish News, 02/04/07)
Ron Weiser BLOG (April 2, 2007)
AIJAC on IAJV and anti-Zionism (04/07)
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council commenting on Radio National’s ‘Religion Report’ programs on Zionism.
These wicked sons would still be slaves (The Canadian Jewish News, 05/04/07)
”The British and Australian individuals who recently referred to themselves as “independent Jewish voices,” such as the playwright Harold Pinter, have no Jewish identity other than denouncing Israel. Like the wicked son, they have separated themselves from the community, and had they been in Egypt at the time of the Exodus, they would have stayed behind, enjoying a short-lived notoriety, and without knowing the exhilaration of freedom.”
Assault on Israel’s right to exist (Australian Jewish News, 26/03/07)
Why I refused to publish Loewenstein’s articles (Australian Jewish News, 23/03/07)
Pull of the Promised Land (Sydney Morning Herald, 23/03/07)
A petition calling for more openness in debate about Israel was a rare flashpoint of public disagreement among Australian Jews, writes Linda Morris.
A New Voice for Australian Jews (New Matilda, 21/03/07)
The Jewish establishment claims to speak for all Jews and have Israel’s best interests at heart. In fact, the opposite is true. By Antony Loewenstein.
Petition authors defend bogus names (Australian Jewish News, 22/03/07)
One body - many opinions (Online Opinion, 19/03/07)
The State Zionist Council of Victoria (SZCV) is the roof body for 51 organisations that spans a broad range of political, religious, cultural and age groups within the Jewish community of Victoria. It encourages discussion and debate among its member organisations as well as the Victorian community in general and the Jewish community in particular.
Differing opinions are not excluded (The Australian, 19/03/07)
”All Jewish voices are welcome to be heard,” write Melinda Jones (research director of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission).
John Safran vs the Jews (Australian Jewish News, 19/03/07)
”WE, the undersigned, were shocked by Michael Danby MP’s decision to issue a petition against the Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV) petition.
It has forced us, reluctantly but bravely, to issue a petition against the petition against the petition.”
New Jewish group breaks ‘conspiracy of silence’ (Green Left Weekly, 16/03/07)
The internet launch on March 5 of the Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV) has provoked both criticism and support. Author Antony Loewenstein, one of the initiators, told Green Left Weekly that the Jewish establishment reacted “very badly” because, in his view, their position as the spokespeople for the Jewish community for decades is now being challenged.
Just who is vilifying whom? (Australian Jewish News, 15/03/07)
LOUISE Adler, Antony Loewenstein and their fellow IAJV petitioners must live in a parallel universe. Their view from afar of the ruthless way the Jewish leadership is supposed to stifle and vilify the brave Jews who dare challenge the Israel-right-or-wrong orthodoxy is pure invention.
Letter to the Australian newspaper (15/03/07)
The Jewish firestorm (Online Opinion, 15/03/07)
The firestorm which appears to be now sweeping through Australia's small, but influential Jewish community over the issue of representation, and the “right” to speak out about Israeli politics may perplex many people outside the community, as it may infuriate or please some within. It is much more than a comic characterisation of “two Jews; three opinions”, but something that involves perceptions of authoritative representation, and the right to different forms of identity in a democracy.
Letter to the Australian newspaper (14/03/07)
Danby accuses ABC of censorship [over IAJV] (Australian Jewish News, 13/03/07)
FEDERAL MP Michael Danby has lashed out at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), accusing it of "censorship" for refusing to allow him to rebut the allegations about the "Jewish establishment" made by a new group of dissenting Jews.
Blaming the victim (The Australian, 13/03/07)
An editorial in The Australian newspaper.
Self-criticism and IAJV (ABC Radio National Perspective, 12/03/07)
”Self-criticism is a monotheistic tradition.”
Letter to the Australian newspaper (12/03/07)
Official Zionist response to IAJV (11/03/07)
Statement by the Zionist Federation of Australia and the State Zionist Councils of Victoria and NSW.
Dissident Jewish group sprouts (Sydney’s Sun Herald, 11/03/07)
Letters to the Age and Australian newspapers (10/03/07)
Voices from Australia (The Guardian, 09/03/07)
”An increasing number of Jews around the world are no longer prepared to let self-important leaders speak on their behalf.”
The Age “Your Say” on Jewish debate (09/03/07)
Herzog blasts dissidents (Australian Jewish News, 09/03/07)
” A senior Israeli government minister has expressed concern over the views of the new Independent Australian Jewish Voices group on the same day that the group started to create headlines in Israel.”
Letters to the Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian newspapers (09/03/07)
Diverse Jewish Voices (ABC Radio National Australia Talks, 8/3/07)
A panel discussion consisting of Peter Slezak, Dvir Abramovich, David Knoll, Antony Lowenstein, Suzanne Rutland, and Stepan Kerkysharian.
Australian Jewry’s Israel question (The Age, 09/03/07)
Israel and the Middle East need a debate without vitriol and hatred, writes Dennis Altman.
Jewish groups at loggerheads over criticism of Israeli actions (Sydney Morning Herald, 09/03/07)
”A GROUP of prominent Australian Jews, including the NSW Minister for Roads, Eric Roozendaal, the federal Labor MP Michael Danby and the former Victorian Supreme Court judge Howard Nathan have reacted angrily to calls for a more diverse debate on Israel made by a rival Jewish group this week.”
Driven to mute voice of dissent (The Australian, 09/03/07)
By Louise Adler.
Dissent debate: The counter-petition (Australian Jewish News, 08/03/07)
” WE are Jews who are strongly committed to Jewish life and culture. As with most Australian Jews today, we view the welfare and security of Israel as fundamental to that life and culture.
That is why we wish to express our public disagreement with the contents of the IAJV petition…”
Backlash against dissident petition (Australian Jewish News, 08/03/07)
” A GROUP of senior Jewish figures from the community’s left have set up an alternate petition to counter the campaign being run by Independent Australian Jewish Voices (IAJV), whose official launch this week sparked a major backlash.”
No sound of silence (Australian Jewish News, 08/03/07)
The Editorial from the Australian Jewish News.
Australian Jewish leaders blast new NGO as anti-Zionist (Jerusalem Post, 07/03/07)
“The group Independent Australian Jewish Voices represents a fringe, anti-Zionist minority in Australian Jewry, according to communal leaders down under.”
Letters to the Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian newspapers (08/03/07)
Take two Jews and you’ll get three opinions ( letters to The Age , 07/03/07)
Letters from the Age newspaper.
An open debate needed for peace in the Middle East ( letters to the Sydney Morning Herald , 07/03/07)
Vilification and intimidation ( letter to The Australian , 07/03/07)
Jews “free to debate on Israel” ( The Australian , 07/03/07)
”The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has rejected claims that Jews in Australia are not able to freely express their views on Israel and the Middle East.”
There can never be too much opinion ( The Age , 07/03/07)
”THE formation this week of Independent Australian Jewish Voices, a breakaway group from this country's main pro-Israel Jewish lobby organisations, is an understandable occurrence in any country that prides itself on the rights of free speech and independent thought. Rather than being in conflict with existing bodies, this new group sees itself as equally concerned about the crisis in Middle East, but from a different point of view.”
Signed up to express a wish for a just peace in Israel and Palestine ( Sydney Morning Herald , 06/03/07)
Independent Jewish Voices ( ABC Radio National Breakfast , 06/03/07)
When is a Jew not an intolerant Zionist militarist? ( Crikey , 06/03/07)
By Antony Loewenstein.
Obscure, silenced Jews finally speak out ( Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun , 06/03/07)
Jewish calls for open debate of Israeli Palestinian conflict ( ABC Radio AM , 06/03/07)
Jewish coalition calls for open debate on Palestine ( Sydney Morning Herald , 06/03/07)
”A COALITION of prominent Australian Jews, including the philosopher Peter Singer, publisher Louise Adler and Robert Richter, QC, has sparked a furore in the Jewish community by announcing it will challenge what it sees as extreme pro-Israeli bias among Jews in Australia.”
New group takes on Jewish lobby ( The Age , 06/03/07)
The truth is out there ( Australian Jewish News , 05/03/07)
”… Which is why I hope that the Jewish community will demonstrate a modicum of maturity when confronted by Antony Loewenstein’s latest lunatic notion to start an his anti-Israel club. Let him. Let him be its president, its chief minister, its PR spin-doctor. Let him talk, for God’s sake, let him write, because the more he talks and writes, the more opportunities he will provide for self-exposure…”
Jewish Australians call for debate on Israeli policy ( ABC Online , 05/03/07)
Independent Australian Jewish Voices launches (05/03/07)
Proudly anti-Israel Jews ( Australia/Israel Review , March 2007)
“We seem to be hearing more and more from an anything but silent minority of Jews who disagree with Israel or its policies, want to tell the world and, despite frequent claims that their views are suppressed, seem to have no problem doing so.”
Dissidents set for Australia-wide media campaign ( Australian Jewish News , 01/03/07)
The right to dissent ( Australian Jewish News , 09/02/07)
Bid to emulate UK group of dissenting Jews dismissed by Jewish leaders ( Australian Jewish News , 8/2/07)
“JEWISH community leaders in Australia have dismissed moves to establish a group representing dissenting voices on Israeli security policy, claiming a diversity of opinion and organisations already exists.
Author and outspoken Israel critic Antony Loewenstein this week vowed to set up a "breakaway group" from the mainstream Jewish community organisations, in the wake of similar campaign now underway in Britain.”
New bid for “open debate” on Israel ( The Age , 07/02/07)
” A BREAKAWAY group from Australia's mainstream Jewish organisations aims to encourage "open debate" within the Jewish community on the Middle East.”