Downer: Champion of the Jews
MICHELLE COLEMAN
IN his last official engagement, outgoing minister for foreign affairs Alexander Downer reaffirmed his support and admiration for the Australian Jewish community and Israel.
Downer was guest speaker, together with Israeli Ambassador Yuval Rotem, at “Celebrating Israel”, a function co-hosted by the State Zionist Council of NSW and the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia (NCJWA) NSW division.
Downer paid tribute to Australia’s positive role in the 1947 vote for the United Nations’ General Assembly Resolution 181, which paved the way for the establishment of the State of Israel.
“After all the Jewish people had been through, the least the world could do was to find the Jewish people a homeland,” Downer said.
Earlier in the evening, he echoed the words of Dalia Ayalon Sinclair, president of NCJWA NSW division, who remarked that the Middle East would not be the trouble spot it is today if the Arab world had accepted the Partition Plan.
Downer said that Israel was brought into existence by the rule of law rather than military force and that it was a tragedy Israel did not receive the support it deserved.
“It’s become fashionable to criticise Israel. It’s become fashionable to oppose Israel. It’s become fashionable not to sympathise with Israeli casualties. I have wrestled with that throughout my time as foreign minister,” he said.
Downer urged the incoming Australian Government to continue to support Israel. “I only hope that in the next three years ... Australia will continue to provide and not just pay lip service to robust support of Israel.”
http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=4583