Australian Leader Assures Jews of Opposition to Arab Boycott

Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans assured a delegation of Jewish leaders that he would see to it that Australia’s opposition to the Arab League’s boycott of Israel is clearly understood by boycott offices and the boycotting states.

Evans, a member of the national Senate, said he was “very unimpressed” by the way some government officials failed to act consistently with Australia’s declared opposition to the boycott.

But he dodged a commitment to support legislation that would outlaw boycott compliance in Australia. He said in that respect that Australia would closely watch the actions of other Western nations.

Evans promised, however, that he would urge the Arab states to drop their boycott of Israel when he visits the Middle East in May. He said he would stress that it was the sort of confidence-building measure needed to facilitate the peace process there.

The foreign minister received a delegation representing the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Zionist Federation of Australia at his office here. Their discussion centered on the boycott and the efforts by the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce this past year to highlight the adverse effects it has on Australian trade.

The Zionist Federation obtained documents under Australia’s Freedom of Information Act which indicated that certain Australian diplomats and other officials were not making clear that Australia opposes the boycott and, in some cases, were actually directing Australian companies not to trade with Israel.

Evans said he would take several measures shortly to make sure that no Australian company or any foreign country got the impression that Australia gives tacit support to “this economic blackmail.”

When pressed about anti-compliance legislation, the minister said the only existing legislation “with teeth” was in the United States. Australia must be realistic in estimating its relative strength in world trade, he said.