Aussie Jews challenge pro-Israel stance

Australian Jewish leaders came out against a new coalition of Australian Jews that challenges what it sees as pro-Israel bias in the community. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the group, Independent Australian Jewish Voices, launched an online campaign this week, with one organizer saying Australian Jews were “basically brainwashed” into unthinking support of Israel.The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, a major think tank, said the group was dangerous and unrepresentative.”Some
of the individuals are clearly committed to the delegitimization of
Israel,” Colin Rubenstein, the council’s executive director, told the Herald. The group, which includes prominent Australian Jews, is modeled after a similar group launched in England last month whose members include author Harold Pinter,
comedian Stephen Fry and filmmaker Mike Leigh.