From The Australian, 17 May 2018 (comments from readers are also included below):
Australia’s foreign affairs department has said the country’s ambassador to Israel could not attend an event celebrating the opening of the new US embassy in Jerusalem as he was on personal leave.
“The Minister did not instruct the Ambassador with regard to his travel. The ambassador was on personal leave,” a department of foreign affairs spokeswoman said.
The Australian understands the ambassador, Chris Cannan, received the invitation in the days before the event on May 8, but had pre-planned personal leave on the day of the diplomatic reception on May 13 and was out of the country.
The explanation comes after prominent Jewish community leaders — traditional supporters of the Coalition’s stance on Israel — hit out at the government over his absence.
While Australia has been one of Israel’s biggest backers on the international stage, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Mr Cannan, was not in the country at the time.
All 86 countries with diplomatic representation in Israel were invited to the event, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Thirty-two countries said they would attend, but only Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania attended from the EU.The Australian understands no official was sent in his place. Government sources said the invitation was for the envoy only.
At a separate event diplomats were not invited to, US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump officially opened the new US embassy on Monday.
Jewish community leader Danny Lam, the head of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said the Ambassador’s absence was “disappointing”.
“It’s very disappointing that only four Western nations attended. Australia could have been there,” Dr Lam told The Australian.
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, said the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem was a “very good one”.
“Certainly it’s a little disappointing that Australia couldn’t attend the opening ceremony,” Mr Rubenstein said. “It’s claimed the ambassador was not able to attend. I’m not sure if he was away or had other commitments.”
Former longtime Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma told The Australian it would be the right diplomatic decision not to send the ambassador as it would have contradicted Australian policy on Jerusalem by appearing to agree with the US move. “It would have been a policy statement to send him and a shift of policy. If they haven’t made that shift it doesn’t make sense to send him,” he said.
He added that Australia was otherwise one of Israel’s closest supporters at the UN.
Alex Ryvchin, co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said Israel had “no better friend than Australia” and “even the best of friends will disagree from time to time”.
Labor’s Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby said the move not to send the ambassador was “weak”.
Following Mr Trump’s move to shift the US diplomatic base to Jerusalem, Liberal backbenchers have stepped up calls for Australia to move its embassy to West Jerusalem or to recognise Jerusalem as the capital. Andrew Hastie, Victorian senator James Paterson, Tony Abbott and Eric Abetz have all called for the move.
Ms Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull — who represent electorates with large Jewish populations — have maintained a two-way line, blaming Hamas and urging restraint by Israel.
Ms Bishop said Palestinian protesters were being “incited by Hamas”. “Hamas must know that if they encourage protesters to cross into Israeli territory, there will be a response,” Ms Bishop said.
“Likewise, the Israeli Defence Force is carrying out Israel’s right to self-defence but it must be proportionate and there must not be an excessive use of force.”
Palestinians are mourning the deaths of at least 60 people by Israeli forces — including eight-month-old Leila al-Ghandour — following Monday’s clashes that wounded at least 2700.
The pro Israeli lobby in Australia must decide if their primary alleigence is to Australia or Israel.
Australia has made clear it will not be moving our embassy to Jerusalem and has condemned Israels unneccessary killing of Palestinian protestors.
Peace in Israel will occur with a two state solution and that has been severely set back by Trumps irresponsible move of the US embassy.
Criticising the actions of the current Israeli government is not anti semitic in the same way as criticising the actions of the Chinese government is not anti Chinese racism.
@margaret Your point that criticism of Israel is not anti-Semitic is well made and valid, albeit superfluous.
Trump's moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem has not set the peace process back one single iota. The only two parties in the peace process - Israel and Palestine - are the only two parties that can make any peace process succeed, or fail. Nothing external has any real effect.
I seem to recall that whilst there is no move at this time for Australia to move its embassy to Jerusalem, an opportunity exists to follow the exemplary lead of the USA in this regard and settle the outstanding issue of Jerusalem being the recognised capital of Israel once and for all, and move our embassy to Jerusalem.
Your call for the pro Israeli lobby to choose allegiance is simplistic and disingenuous. It is unbelievably doubtful that any of the Australian individuals named in this article have anything but the best interests of Australia at heart.
For the record, in context to the Israeli embassy issue, I am of the opinion that Australia
would do well to move our embassy to Jerusalem with immediate effect, not only as a sign of support for the USA in this regard, but more importantly as a clear sign that Australia recognises Israel's claim that Jerusalem has always been its capital for thousands of years.
would do well to move our embassy to Jerusalem with immediate effect, not only as a sign of support for the USA in this regard, but more importantly as a clear sign that Australia recognises Israel's claim that Jerusalem has always been its capital for thousands of years.
Does my opinion shift my allegiance to Israel as I disagree with our government's current position on our Israeli embassy?
Of course it is racist to criticise a racist who believes their race and only their race was chosen by god.
'The pro Israeli lobby in Australia must decide if their primary alleigence is to Australia or Israel.'
Do you say that about the pro-'Palestinian', pro-CCP or pro-Russian lobbies here?
No?
I agree with Labor’s Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby said the move not to send the ambassador was “weak”.
I say that Julie Bishop and Malcom should hang their heads in shame and should also express an apology to our strong and reliable friend, the US, as well as to Israel.
I wonder what advice DFAT gave to Ms Bishop and whether it orchestrated the absence of our ambassador to Israel before advising the minister on the US invitation?
Bishop wouldn't want to upset the middle east Muslims. Doesn't matter about upsetting our major allies by snubbing them publically.
@B R It would be easier to list the countries who WOULD respond in the way Isrsel is responding. countries like Syria, Egypt, Burma more recently. wake up! Netenyahu is a gangster and fast becoming an international joke. Trumps support for him is more about Obama than his support for Israel.
Israel is behaving atrociously and has so far ignored its obligations in respect of a two state solution. The ugly truth is the Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from Israel. Things were made infinitely worse by the rabid attitudes of Jewish Russian immigrants, few of whom seem to understand what they are doing is what Germany did to Jews. I hear the claims that Israel is a democracy. But that resolves nothing if those in power are moral pygmies. The assassination of a true Israeli leader who was prepared to talk and reach out was the watershed moment for Israel. It has all gone downhill since then.
@Ian Tell me one country that would accept, the actions taking place on it's border. Israel has and is reacting with restraint, this is nothing more than a terrorist organisation using people for it's own ends. They are little more than Hama cannon fodder.
@Dale @Ian Let us stop this pretence Israel was defending its border because in reality its border extends past the Gaza ghetto and out to sea. The Israelis control the air, land and sea space surrounding Gaza. The Israeli navy prevents Palestinians going too far out to sea and also blockades anyone getting in. The Israelis in reality were acting as prison guards and preventing a mass breakout from the world's largest open air prison. No other civilised country in the world would be able to get away with that and it is shameful that so many otherwise decent Australians find it so easy to justify mass slaughter. Kind Regards. Paul
Australia does not allow dual nationals to sit in our parliament in case they represent a foreign power. But that does not prevent a member of parliament representing a foreign power. Australia also allows organisations such as the Zionist Federation of Australia, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and Executive Council of Australian Jewry to represent a foreign power. It is vital for our country's independence that our politicians resist these representatives of foreign powers.
Yes well, Jews here are standing in the way of proper curtailment/eradication of certain Islamic practices, for fear attention will fall on Jews.
Bad.
Jerusalem is actually the old capital of the Jews and was for thousands of years, well before the Arabs appeared on the scene claiming it as their own.
The only beacon for democracy in the Middle East and Australia doesn't stand proudly to defend it. Another Turnbull/Bishop faux pas. When will the Government stand up for democracy.
Yup. A choice between a civilized liberal & democratic culture...or a barbarian one.
It's not hard.
@Paul this is very precious and utterly exposes your bias. More pertinently directed at China and their murder of unarmed students at Tiananmen Square massacre. These were violent protests after rockets had been fired into Israel and Hamas organised riots were attempting to breach the border into Israel. How about you go and face them and show us how it is done instead of making subjective judgements. The Palestinian rioters were trying to breach the Israeli border, not the other way around and as usual and strangely conveniently, someone is always being carried in front of every photo.
Turnbull and Bishop have no courage. Votes in western Sydney mean more to them than doing what's right.
If those prominent leaders put the same effort into pushing for Malka Liefer's extradition from Israel to face the courts here, I may take an interest in what they say. Meantime this was an American event and it served no purpose to press peoples hot or cold buttons either way.
@Wayne Excuse me. As a member of the Jewish community I can attest that our leaders and our community as a whole are putting a lot of effort into getting Malka Leifer extradited back to this country. Extradition from any country is a convoluted process and takes time. Meanwhile back to the article...it would have been nice for Australia to have shown some backbone and attended the event.
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