AUSTRALIA/ISRAEL REVIEW

VOLUME 46 No. 1 JANUARY 2021

AUSTRALIA/ISRAEL & JEWISH AFFAIRS COUNCIL IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES Israel likely heading for yet another election just as the Biden administration takes over in Washington

UNRWA’S TURNING POINT? MARRAKECH UNFORGETTABLE COLD PEACE, EXPRESS LESSONS WARM PEACE A unique opportunity to reform Israel’s historic nor- Innovative new How the UAE normalisa- the controversial UN agency for malisation deal with Holocaust education tion differs from Israel’s Palestinian refugees ...... PAGE 30 Morocco ...... PAGE 20 programs in longstanding peace with Australia...... PAGE 25 Egypt ...... PAGE 6 NAME OF SECTION

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AIR – January 2021 AUSTRALIA/ISRAEL VOLUME 46 No. 1 REVIEW JANUARY 2021 EDITOR’S NOTE NAME OF SECTION his month’s AIR edition focuses on Israel’s apparent drift toward new elections – the ON THE COVER Tfourth in two years – just as the Biden administration takes office in the US. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Amotz Asa-El explains the events that look very likely to lead to Israeli voters going Netanyahu (R) and alternate-PM back to the polls in March, while Israeli pundit Haviv Rettig Gur looks at recent devel- and Defence Minister Benny opments that may make long-serving Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu more vulnerable Gantz attend the weekly cabinet this time around. In addition, American columnist Jonathan Tobin argues the upcoming meeting in Jerusalem on June inauguration of Joe Biden makes a new Israeli poll sensible, while, in the editorial, Colin 21, 2020. (AFP Photo) Rubenstein further explores the link between the election and Jerusalem’s relations with Washington. Finally, top Israeli security analyst Jacob Nagel discusses how Israel and the Biden administration can coordinate their policies on Iran. Also featured this month is Raphael Ahren on the historical roots of Israel’s recently announced normalisation breakthrough with Morocco, plus Ron Schleifer and Yehuda Brochin on opportunities to reform the long problematic UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). And don’t miss Sharyn Mittelman exploring some unique Holocaust education initiatives in Australia, Jeremy Jones’ dive into antisemitism trends in this country, and Allon Lee’s review of an odd novel focussed on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Please let us know what you think of any aspect of this edition at editorial@aijac.org.au. Tzvi Fleischer CONTENTS FEATURE STORIES REGULAR COLUMNS IRRECONCILABLE FROM THE EDITORIAL CHAIRMAN DIFFERENCES COLIN RUBENSTEIN ...... PAGE 4 ...... PAGE 5 BY AMOTZ ASA-EL WORD FOR WORD Jury-rigged from the start, it SCRIBBLINGS held together for a scant seven months. Only created last TZVI FLEISCHER ...... PAGE 6 May, Israel’s 35th government seems to have reached the DECONSTRUCTION ZONE end of its journey ...... PAGE 12 BEN COHEN ...... PAGE 7 NETANYAHU FACING AN UPHILL STRUGGLE ASIA WATCH BY HAVIV RETTIG GUR ...... PAGE 14 MICHAEL SHANNON ...... PAGE 8 THE CASE FOR ISRAELI ELECTIONS AIR NEW ZEALAND BY JONATHAN TOBIN ...... PAGE 16 MIRIAM BELL ...... PAGE 9 BIDEN, ISRAEL AND IRAN BEHIND THE NEWS...... PAGE 10 BY JACOB NAGEL ...... PAGE 17 STRANGER THAN FICTION...... PAGE 11 A PEACE RESONANT WITH HISTORY The Israel-Morocco normalisation deal NOTED AND QUOTED...... PAGE 35 BY RAPHAEL AHREN ...... PAGE 20 IN PARLIAMENT...... PAGE 36 ASSASSINATION IMPLICATIONS BY MEDIA MICROSCOPE ARDAVAN KHOSHNOOD ...... PAGE 21 ALLON LEE ...... PAGE 39 YET MORE EXTREMIST VOICES EXPOSED THE LAST WORD BY RAN PORAT ...... PAGE 23 JEREMY JONES ...... PAGE 40 LESSONS THAT MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN BY SHARYN MITTELMAN ...... PAGE 25 HOW TO USE OUR INTERACTIVE EDITION

BIBLIO FILE: A NOVEL APPROACH • Tap/click to return to the Contents page BY ALLON LEE ...... PAGE 28 • All listed articles link to their page. ESSAY: UNRWA’S MOMENT OF TRUTH • Best viewed in your desktop browser or the Books (iOS) or A chance for urgently needed reforms equivalent e-book reader app in portrait mode. BY RON SCHLEIFER & YEHUDA BROCHIN ...... PAGE 30 3

AIR – January 2021 Australia/Israel Review A journal of analysis and opinion published by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC)

Editorial Chairman

EDITORIAL Dr COLIN RUBENSTEIN AM Editor-in-Chief Dr TZVI FLEISCHER Senior Contributing Editor ISRAELI DEMOCRACY AND JEREMY JONES AM Staff Writers ALLON LEE, JAMIE HYAMS, AHRON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHAPIRO, SHARYN MITTELMAN, NAOMI LEVIN, OVED LOBEL, JUDY MAYNARD Publishing Manager arring a hasty, last-minute reprieve of some kind, as of this writing, Israel’s Knesset MICHAEL SHANNON Correspondents Bis expected to dissolve itself before the new year, setting the stage for an unprec- ISRAEL: AMOTZ ASA-EL edented fourth election in two years, probably in mid-March. EUROPE: DOUGLAS DAVIS NEW ZEALAND: MIRIAM BELL After no viable governing coalition emerged from the elections in April and Septem- National Editorial Board ber of 2019, the third, in March 2020, was held against the backdrop of the coronavirus KEITH BEVILLE, RABBI RALPH GENENDE OAM, GARY HERZ, MIRIAM pandemic. It resulted in the shaky compromise of the current national emergency govern- LASKY, STEVE LIEBLICH, RABBI JOHN ment led by the Likud and the Blue and White parties. LEVI AM, Hon. HOWARD NATHAN AM, IAN WALLER SC At the time, AIJAC argued this unity government was necessary given the looming pandemic and other challenges. But we also warned that the contrived arrangements put AIJAC in place to make it possible would be extremely complex and difficult to manage, requir- National Chairman MARK LEIBLER AC ing both considerable good will and political skill. Unfortunately, not enough of these NSW Chairman vital commodities were forthcoming, and the unity arrangement never really led to a fully PAUL RUBENSTEIN Executive Director functioning and coherent government. Dr COLIN RUBENSTEIN AM As the prime minister chosen to lead first in an 18-month rotational arrangement, Director of International & Community Affairs responsibility for the Government’s failures must begin with Binyamin Netanyahu, even if JEREMY JONES AM his erstwhile partners from Blue and White are also not blameless. Netanyahu appreciates Senior Policy Analysts AHRON SHAPIRO, JAMIE HYAMS, ALLON that his failure to pass a budget is, by law, an automatic trigger for new elections. Given LEE, NAOMI LEVIN, SHARYN MITTELMAN the unprecedented national challenges Israel faces in the spheres of health, the economy Policy Analysts OVED LOBEL, JUDY MAYNARD and defence, many in Israel consider the refusal to pass such a budget highly questionable. Associate Director of Public Affairs Netanyahu has undeniable achievements in office, including his leadership in forging JOEL BURNIE National Media & Public Affairs peace and normalisation agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and, Officer most recently, Morocco and Bhutan. However, these accomplishments have been marred ARIEL ZOHAR Multimedia Designer to some extent by his failure to bring the impending deals to the attention of Defence AREK DYBEL Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi of Blue and White. Events Coordinator HELEN BRUSTMAN OAM Israel’s seemingly endless political stalemate has of course been extremely frustrating, Administration but a fourth election could nonetheless be what the country needs at this time. There are MELBOURNE: ROSEMARY SANDLER, RENA LANGBERG some hopeful signs emerging that, after this round, there may be a different outcome that SYDNEY: LOUISE DE MESQUITA could lead to some sorely needed stability and policy productivity (see pp. 12-14). Israel Liaison PETER ADLER One key reason a new stable government in Jerusalem is urgently needed is in order Founding Chairmen to establish effective ties with the incoming Biden administration about to assume office in ISADOR MAGID AM (OBM) ROBERT ZABLUD (OBM) the US.

HEAD OFFICE The current division of key ministries between Blue and White and Likud, and the Level 1, 22 Albert Road, South Melbourne, VIC 3205, Australia chronic lack of communication and coordination between them, would make it much Telephone: (03) 9681 6660 Fax: (03) 9681 6650 harder for the Israeli government to coherently approach the new administration and Email: [email protected] ensure it fully understands Israel’s essential interests and priorities. SYDNEY OFFICE One of the crucial issues the Biden administration will consider is dealing with Iranian 140 William Street East Sydney, NSW 2011, Australia violations of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal and Telephone: (02) 9360 5415 Email: [email protected] other ongoing rogue behaviours.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Israel needs to be ready to carry out dialogue with American officials on this crucial Please send all remittances, changes of address and subscription inquiries to: policy issue with utmost clarity and unanimity. Australia/Israel Review Level 1, 22 Albert Road Biden’s policy is for the US to rejoin the JCPOA and then renegotiate to “improve South Melbourne, VIC 3205, Australia and extend” the deal on matters such as ballistic missiles and Iran’s destabilising regional ISSN No. 1442-3693 Print Post Approved – 100007869 behaviour. 4 www.aijac.org.au But if there is anything that can be learnt from the negotiations that led to the nuclear

AIR – January 2021 deal and what has come after, it is that conceding sanctions Yet this will require a fully functioning and focused relief for Iran prematurely would sacrifice US leverage Israeli government, able to promise and deliver competent over Iran while encouraging intransigence in Teheran. and coherent assistance to US regional efforts and also Biden’s policy of “compliance for compliance” followed encourage Washington to build on the Trump Administra- by expansion of the agreement, can be workable only if the tion’s successful efforts to forge a de facto alliance between EDITORIAL administration adheres firmly to its ostensible stance that Israel and major Sunni Arab states. it is up to Teheran to return to full compliance before any On the Palestinian front, there are signs its leadership is significant nuclear-related sanctions can be lifted. starting to recognise they are at a dead end. Regional sup- Even then, strong non- “One key reason a new stable government port for the Palestinian cause nuclear sanctions must remain is at an unprecedentedly low to address Iran’s other misbe- in Jerusalem is urgently needed is in order ebb. The Palestinian “grand haviours – including support to establish effective ties with the incoming strategy” of refusing all nego- for terrorism, missile develop- Biden administration about to assume office tiations and insisting Israel be ment, harassment of shipping in the US” isolated and sanctioned until and attacks on neighbours. it meets Palestinian demands This is the only conceivable way to force Iran to negoti- looks so obviously hopeless today that even its often wil- ate the improved and expanded deal Biden has outlined. fully blind leadership must see this reality. A return to the JCPOA is, by itself, essentially useless. Israel will need a cohesive government to encourage Not only was the deal thoroughly flawed from the begin- actors like the US to make sure the Palestinian leadership ning in numerous ways, its sunset provisions, which essen- and society are forced to grasp this new situation. Then, tially will allow Iran to enrich uranium to any level in any Jerusalem will need to offer a reasonable way forward into amounts, will kick in after just a few short years. Keeping a renewed peace process. up the pressure to make Iran commit beyond the limited Israel’s vibrant democracy, in contrast to its undemo- JCPOA is the only outcome that matters. cratic neighbours, has given the country many past op- Together with leaders from a growing list of Arab allies, portunities to periodically adjust its course and reinvent Israeli officials will need to make sure their counterparts itself in ways which best serve the needs of its people. One in the Biden administration fully comprehend this reality – hopes this resourceful resilience and adaptability, two of and are ready to work with Israel and other regional actors the country’s best assets, come to the fore in negotiating to employ all available policy tools to address it effectively. the current challenging impasse.

WORD “Israeli governments have arrested thousands of the inhabitants FOR WORD of the lands they are colonising and incarcerated them in con- centration camps under the flimsiest of security accusations – “Likud has changed its character dramatically in recent years. I young and old, women and men who are rotting there without can no longer support the Netanyahu-led government or be a recourse or justice.” member of a Likud party led by him… Today Israel needs unity Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal in a surprising diatribe against Israel and stability – [PM Binyamin] Netanyahu can offer neither.” speaking at a conference session in Bahrain also featuring Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (Times of Israel, Dec. 7). Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar announcing he will form his own right-wing party for upcoming Israeli elections (Times of Israel, Dec. 8). “The Abraham Accords do not come at the expense of the Pales- “All relevant administrators must seriously place two crucial tinians. Quite the opposite, they are an opportunity that should matters on their agendas: 1st to investigate this crime and firmly not be missed. I call on the Palestinians to change their minds prosecute its perpetrators and its commanders, 2nd to continue and enter direct negotiation with us without preconditions. This the martyr’s scientific and technological efforts in all the sectors is the only way to solve this conflict.” where he was active.” Israeli Foreign Minister Ashkenazi, responding to bin Faisal (Times of Israel, Dec. 7). Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in response to the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (Twitter, Nov. 28). “Slovenia’s designation of Hizballah as a terrorist organization in its entirety is a critical step in the fight against Iranian-backed “Enemies should be awaiting our revenge. The time, place and terrorists. We commend Slovenia and other European nations quality of the operation we will determine.” for taking action to prevent Hizballah from threatening their Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami at peace and security.” Mohsen Fakhrizadeh’s funeral (Al-Monitor, Nov. 30). US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Twitter, Dec. 5). 5

AIR – January 2021 sentially regards it as a crime to have a friendly interaction with any Israeli. Now let’s look at the United Arab Emirates, which is actually where Ramadan’s “crime” of being photographed COLUMNS NAME OF SECTION Tzvi Fleischer with Israelis took place. The photos were taken at a party at a Dubai restaurant. COLD PEACE VERSUS WARM PEACE The photo of Ramadan and Adam was shared with the Here’s a story that perfectly illustrates the difference world by an Emirati journalist named Hamad al-Mazroui, between the warm and genuine peace Israel is currently with the caption, “The most famous artist in Egypt with developing with the UAE and Bahrain, and the “cold peace” the most famous artist in Israel. Dubai brings us together.” it has had with Egypt for more than 40 years, and also with Al-Mazroui later deleted the photo, but it was clear Jordan for more than 25. that, at the time, he thought the picture was a very positive Popular Egyptian film star and rapper Mohamed thing, not some sort of crime. Ramadan is in big trouble in his native land. He has been And why would he think otherwise? Israeli singer Adam suspended from Egypt’s Theatrical Professions Syndicate, had been invited to Dubai by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa which essentially means he cannot perform either as an ac- al Nahyan, a senior UAE royal and son of the country’s tor or singer. A soap opera featuring the President. Adam stayed for weeks, actor has also reportedly been cancelled. and appears to have been welcomed In addition, the Egyptian Journalists’ warmly everywhere. One of the coun- Union has instructed its members not to try’s high-profile sheikhs actually threw publish or broadcast any news or images him a large party for his birthday in late of the artist. Finally, he is being forced October. to face court on Dec. 19 on the charge This is not the only sign that the UAE of “insulting the Egyptian people.” has been very open to Israeli artists. One His crime? He was photographed in L-R: Israeli singer Omer Adam, Egyptian of the country’s biggest popstars, Waleed a friendly pose with Israeli singer Omer actor Mohamed Ramadan and Israeli foot- Aljasim, even recorded a hit music video, Adam, and also with Israeli footballer baller Dia Saba on a Dubai rooftop “Ahlan Bik”, with Israeli singer Elkana Mar- Dia Saba. ziano. The song, whose main refrain is “I The Egyptian unions, including the Theatrical Professions hear you friend far away, far away” repeated in Arabic, Hebrew Syndicate and the Journalists’ Union, have long-standing and English, was written and arranged by Doron Medalie, the policies rejecting any normalisation with Israelis – even after lyricist and co-composer of the song “Toy,” with which Israeli more than 40 years of supposed peace. And this apparently Netta Barzilai won the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. extends to being friendly to any Israeli anywhere. Aljasim seems to have suffered no significant repercus- And it is not just labour organisations dating back to the sions for actively collaborating artistically with Israelis – Nasserist era, or social media, that were outraged. Even which, to an anti-normalisation ideologue, must surely be popular TV host Ahmed Moussa, known for his loyalty to the many times worse than simply putting your arms around Egyptian President, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, slammed Ramadan’s the shoulder of an Israeli at a party, as Ramadan did. action as “a fully-fledged crime” and called for “deterrence Or what about Dia Saba, the other Israeli with whom measures” to stop further interactions with Israelis. Ramadan committed the “crime” of being photographed? Yet Sisi is himself openly cooperating with Israel and He is an Israeli Arab soccer player who was in Dubai be- its government to a much greater degree than any past cause he plays for the Emirati soccer club Al Nasr. That’s Egyptian leader. right, the UAE has no problem with Israeli citizens playing It is not actually illegal to interact with Israelis un- in its national football league. der Egyptian law, as it is in some Arab countries, such as Meanwhile, Omer Adam’s host, Sheikh Hamad bin Lebanon. Yet the case against Ramadan for “insulting the Khalifa al Nahyan, has just bought a 50% share in an Israeli Egyptian people”, brought by lawyer Tariq Mahmoud, il- soccer club. Not only that, the club in question is Betar lustrates that it is not uncommon in Egypt for individuals Yerushalayim, which is notorious for a particularly right- to be tried for actions not listed in the criminal code but wing fanbase which has been intolerant of Arabs at times. deemed threatening to social peace – including apparently Sheikh bin Khalifa dismissed any concern about poten- being friendly with an Israeli. tially racist fans, saying, “We want to set an example to That is how cold Egypt’s peace with Israel is. On a both nations that Jews and Muslims can work together.” security level ties are quite good, and even diplomatically As Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu said of the deal, “It’s Egypt and Israel increasingly work together. But Egyptian instructive that an Emirati has bought Betar Yerushalayim. 6 society, with encouragement from the Government, es- It tells you how things are changing so rapidly.”

AIR – January 2021 Any of this would be unimaginable with the Egyptians, of European and American backing for Zionism, and the even after 40 years of peace, as the ridiculous persecution consequent “ethnic cleansing” of the Palestinians during of Ramadan demonstrates. Israel’s War of Independence in 1948. Yet the Israel-UAE honeymoon shows how much the It is this last claim that gets to the heart of the objection

Middle East is changing, with Israel becoming an accepted these intellectuals have towards the IHRA definition. Rec- COLUMNS NAME OF SECTION part of the region, despite the still unresolved Palestin- ognising that antisemitism is a dynamic phenomenon, the ian issue. Someday, the Egyptians will have to catch up definition includes as examples both classic tropes about with this new reality. Hopefully it will not take another 40 Jews and more modern ones that revolve around Israel years. and Zionism. Asserting that Jews as a nation have no right to self-determination and depicting the State of Israel as a racist original sin against the Palestinians are, under the terms of the definition, indubitably antisemitic. Not surprisingly, this grouping of intellectuals is infuri- ated that the very positions they promote – that Israel is a Ben Cohen racist undertaking, that Jews are an invented nation, that Israeli policies towards the Palestinians are a reincarnation A DEFINING PROBLEM REGARDING of the Nazi persecution of the Jews – are defined as antise- ANTISEMITISM mitic, and therefore as morally and politically tainted, by A group of Palestinian and Arab intellectuals, 122 in all, a growing segment of international opinion. But instead endorsed a statement published by The Guardian newspa- of honestly reviewing these positions in light of historical per on Nov. 29 that attacked the International Holocaust changes, they have simply doubled down on the discred- Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemi- ited anti-Zionist campaign that was waged by Arab regimes tism. These intellectuals [including Australian academic Dr. before Israel even came into existence. Ghassan Hage – Ed.] were concerned because the definition Centrally, they want to establish as an uncontested fact continues to be adopted by hundreds of governments, local – in exactly the way that the Holocaust or the Cambodian authorities and civic associations in the United States and genocide or the Transatlantic slave trade are uncontested across the world as an effective instrument for countering facts – the Palestinian claim that Israel’s creation was a the hatred of Jews. nakba (“catastrophe”). “As it currently exists, the state of It’s not that these Arab intellectuals endorse antisemi- Israel is based on uprooting the vast majority of the natives tism. They declare early on that “no expression of hatred – what Palestinians and Arabs refer to as the nakba – and for Jews as Jews should be tolerated anywhere in the on subjugating those natives who still live on the territory world.” They recognise, too, that antisemitism “manifests of historical Palestine as either second-class citizens or itself in sweeping generalizations and stereotypes about people under occupation, denying them their right to self- Jews, regarding power and money in particular, along with determination,” the statement reads. conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial.” Those states and bodies that have endorsed the IHRA Yet despite featuring the names of some of the Arab definition understand this argument very differently. They world’s most respected academics, writers and filmmak- do not see it as an objective statement of fact, but as a ers, the statement on the IHRA definition at no point ac- highly politicised account of the origins, nature and poli- knowledges that antisemitism as a social and religious phe- cies of the Jewish state. They do not accept as uncontested nomenon is deeply embedded within the Arab civilisations the claim that Israel, in the process of establishing its inde- that these intellectuals represent. Instead, antisemitism is pendence, deliberately expelled 750,000 Palestinian Arabs, depicted as someone else’s problem, primarily Europe’s. or that Israel is solely responsible for the perpetuation of It is hard to take seriously the expressed commitment the refugee question almost 80 years on. to fighting antisemitism in this statement in the face of Indeed, partly because of the IHRA definition’s spread, such blatant airbrushing of Middle Eastern history. For a growing number of opinion-shapers are beginning to un- millennia, Jews occupied a precarious place in Arab and derstand that the anti-Zionist explanation for the plight of Islamic societies, occasionally experiencing more benign the Palestinians is itself built upon an antisemitic caricature rulers, but frequently serving as the targets of official dis- of the Zionist undertaking. crimination and popular violence. As the strategic significance of the Palestinian issue has None of this is apparently relevant to these intellectu- receded over the last few years, the use of the nakba as a als, who see their role as nourishing the national mytholo- narrative to undermine both the Jewish claim to national gies of the Arab world – specifically, that antisemitism is self-determination and the fight against antisemitism in not an Arab problem and, relatedly, that the problem of its anti-Zionist guise is becoming less and less effective. antisemitism has been imposed upon the Arabs as a result In time, perhaps, some Arab intellectuals will realise that 7

AIR – January 2021 this development was, above all, a stroke of good fortune scenes reminiscent of the Marawi siege of 2017. An army for the Palestinians, helping to liberate them from their company stationed nearby, along with the town’s small po- damaging shibboleths towards a life of peace and looking lice force, repelled the attack until back-up forces arrived, forward. prompting the militants to withdraw an hour later. COLUMNS NAME OF SECTION A BIFF spokesman named Abu Jihad said the group Ben Cohen is a New York City-based journalist and author. © torched police vehicles in Datu Piang because it believed po- Jewish News Syndicate (JNS.org), reprinted by permission, all lice were involved in illegal activities in the town. “The law rights reserved. of Islam prohibits all wrongdoings…we are just enforcing it,” he said over local radio. “We will not stop and no one can stop us until there are no illegal activities in the town.” While the latest attack paled in comparison with the five-month Marawi siege, it showed that Islamic State- linked groups still have clout in the autonomous Muslim Michael Shannon region. Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute NOT READY YET for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research think tank, The creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in recently told the Asia Times, “The attack in Datu Piang by Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) was meant to herald an era pro-IS militants associated with the BIFF is a strong indica- of peace and much needed economic development in the tion that the threat of terrorism in Mindanao persists three Philippines’ troubled southern region. Yet, the transitional years after Marawi liberation.” government installed in February 2019 will not be able to Banlaoi cautions that there is no guarantee that the meet its reform timetable due to the COVID-19 pandemic establishment of the new Bangsamoro region would lead to and ongoing instability generated by Islamic State-linked the eventual defeat of pro-IS groups in Mindanao, which, militant groups. he said, is being seen by foreign militants as their “new land Murad Ebrahim, head of the Bangsamoro Transition Au- of jihad” after the weakening of IS in the Middle East. thority, has asked Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte Meanwhile on the southernmost islands, former MILF for an extension of his term by three years, to 2025, be- guerrillas are already helping the police go after militants fore local voters get to elect their own government. associated with the Abu Sayyaf, which is now divided into The menace of Islamic State-aligned groups has stalled several factions. a major reform goal – decommissioning the weapons of Some 39 members of the IS-linked faction of the Abu the former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerril- Sayyaf militant group surrendered to the Philippine mili- las – says Murad, the former chief of MILF. The group was tary during the first week of December, in the southern once the largest of the guerrilla organisations fighting for a islands of Tawi-Tawi and Sulu. separate Muslim state in the Philippines since 1978. It later Among those captured was Alsadi Hanain, who is said dropped its demand for an independent state, and settled to have participated in several high-profile kidnappings and for expanded autonomy. executions of foreigners over the past several years, and The phased handover of weapons is part of the peace operated under the command of Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, deal with the government that led to the establishment of the leader of the IS-linked Abu Sayyaf faction. the BARMM. Each combatant who hands over weapons is Sawadjaan is believed to have been killed earlier this expected to receive a cash payment, including money for year in a clash on the island of Jolo, an Abu Sayyaf strong- education. Currently 12,000 firearms, or about 30% of hold, although the military has not confirmed his death. the estimated 40,000 such arms said to be held by MILF The Abu Sayyaf appears to have lost its central leader- members, have been turned over and destroyed. ship, says Murad Ebrahim. “We don’t know now who the The decommissioning process has been slow because real leader is,” he said. “We are also starting to reach out to the former guerrillas have been reluctant to give up them, to try to convince them [to give up fighting].” their weapons amid ongoing attacks from diehard mili- But the Abu Sayyaf is not only splintered into fac- tant groups. Prime among these diehards are the Islamic tions, it appears to be dispersing geographically as well, State-linked Abu Sayyaf, based in the small, southernmost due to sustained military pressure upon its traditional islands, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters strongholds. (BIFF), based in the Mindanao mainland, which broke away More Abu Sayyaf activity is being picked up in smaller, from MILF over peace negotiations with the government. outlying islands and even further afield, including off the As if to justify the apprehension, about 50 heavily- coast of Zamboanga City, one of Mindanao’s largest cities. armed BIFF members attacked a town in Maguindanao All of which points to a heightened risk of attacks in mari- 8 province on the evening of Dec. 3, terrorising residents in time and coastal areas across the not-yet-ready BARMM.

AIR – January 2021 “I’ve been told that she is balanced in her position on policies and the way she is going about things. She is keep- ing her cards close to her chest and doesn’t appear to be making assumptions about any foreign policy issues until NAME OF SECTION Miriam Bell she has better information on the issues involved.” COLUMNS Church said this could be a good sign – especially as MAHUTA TAKES FOREIGN AFFAIRS REINS long-standing local anti-Israel activist John Minto has already After the New Zealand Labour Party’s landslide re- started directing missives to the new minister demanding election in October, the country is currently seeing a re- that New Zealand adopt his strongly pro-Palestinian stance. shuffling of the deck, rather than a changing of the guard. “The real problem is [the Ministry of Foreign Affairs There have been significant changes to the make-up of and Trade’s] influence on the policy of successive govern- Parliament and some new faces in key ministerial roles. ments towards Israel and also on New Zealand’s voting Labour’s outright majority meant there was no need for pattern on Israel at the United Nations,” Church said. “To it to include the Green Party in its governing arrangement, address this, we need a foreign minister who is an indepen- despite the Greens’ strong showing in the election. How- dent thinker to ask ‘why are we doing this and is it really ever, perhaps with an eye to the future, Labour has entered the best approach?’ Maybe that person is Nanaia Mahuta.” into a cooperation arrangement with the Greens. The NZ Jewish Council is also optimistic about Ma- The Green Party co-leaders, James Shaw, who recently huta’s potential as foreign minister. The Council’s spokes- condemned the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanc- person, Juliet Moses, said it is looking forward to meeting tions (BDS) movement, and Marama Davidson, an anti-Israel her and developing a positive relationship with her. “As activist who joined a Gaza-bound flotilla in 2016, will both an indigenous person, we believe she will understand and get non-cabinet portfolios. However, these portfolios are not respect the importance of Israel to our community and our likely to have direct relevance to New Zealand Jewish affairs. connection to it, as our ancestral homeland.” A more notable change comes as a result of New Zealand Another new appointment relevant to New Zealand’s First’s failure to achieve the 5% threshold necessary to get into Jewish community is the new Minister for Diversity, Inclu- Parliament. That means the party’s leader, Winston Peters – sion and Ethnic Communities, Priyanca Radhakrishnan. New Zealand’s longest-serving MP and foreign minister in the She was the Parliamentary Private Secretary for Ethnic previous Labour government – is now out of Parliament. Affairs before the election. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s appointment to re- Moses said the NZ Jewish Council had a good relation- place Peters as foreign minister came as a surprise to many ship with her predecessor Jenny Salesa and is looking for- – long-standing Labour Party MP Nanaia Mahuta. ward to building on those foundations with Radhakrishnan. A Labour MP since 1996, Mahuta was Labour Minister “She attended the Auckland Hebrew Congregation syna- in one of Helen Clark’s governments and served as Lo- gogue for Rosh Hashanah last year and I sat next to her… cal Government and Maori Development Minister in the she was very interested in the service and community.” Ardern Government’s first term. However, while these two key ministerial appointments Much attention has been focussed on the fact that not have been greeted favourably, the community does have only is Mahuta the first woman to become New Zealand’s some concerns regarding certain other MPs. foreign minister, she is also the first Maori woman. Ma- Church points out that alongside Marama Davidson, huta, who has a kauae moko (a traditional Maori facial tat- Golriz Ghahraman, the Green Party’s foreign affairs spokes- too), is seen as presenting a distinctively New Zealand, and person, is also vociferously pro-Palestinian, while Labour MP proudly Maori, face to the world. Duncan Webb, a vocal BDS supporter, remains in Parliament. Her appointment is more than just a statement though. Ghahraman was joined at a recent Palestinian solidarity According to Newsroom political editor Sam Sachdeva: event by two other new MPs – the Greens’ Teanau Tui- “As both the Maori Development Minister and Associ- ono, and Labour’s Ibrahim Omer, an Eritrean refugee who ate Trade and Export Growth Minister in the last term of spent many years working in UN refugee camps. Parliament, Mahuta worked to grow the Maori economy All three MPs took a pledge to form a new parliamen- through indigenous partnerships with other nations, while tary Palestine friendship group and to “raise the voices of she won praise for her low-key but deft relationship- Palestinian people in New Zealand’s parliament.” building in the local government portfolio.” This scenario suggests that the new ministers, particu- Not much is known about Mahuta’s views on matters larly Mahuta, will come under concerted pressure from relating to Israel and the Middle East, but Israel Institute of pro-Palestinian activists both inside and outside of Parlia- New Zealand co-director Ashley Church said that, at this ment. How these ministers respond could have a consider- early stage, she seems to be taking a balanced approach to able impact on the New Zealand-Israel relationship going her portfolio. forward. 9

AIR – January 2021 BEHIND THE NEWS BEHIND THE ROCKET AND TERROR JCPOA permitted levels) commander for Central and South REPORT The law also says the AEOI must America, Admiral Craig Faller, On Nov. 21, two rockets were install 1,000 advanced IR-2m ura- revealed Iran had supplied arms and fired at Israel from Gaza, with one nium enrichment centrifuges at Na- paramilitary support to help Venezue- intercepted by the Iron Dome missile tanz, as opposed to the slower IR-1m lan President Nicolás Maduro maintain defence system and the other causing centrifuges allowed by the JCPOA; his regime’s grip on power. property damage. Israel retaliated by operate a uranium metal production According to Faller, Venezuela is striking Hamas targets in Gaza. plant; and design another 40 mega- “See[ing] a growing Iranian influence” On Nov. 22, IEDs were discovered watt heavy water reactor like the and it is “alarming and concerning” near Rachel’s Tomb and the Qalandiya one at Arak, which was temporarily to see military support by Iran in the Crossing in the West Bank. Suspects in- disabled under the JCPOA. region. volved in both incidents were arrested. Under the law, if the incoming “We’re concerned about what we A Palestinian man was shot dead Biden administration fails to lift sanc- see…It’s not just oil shipments, it’s after ramming his car into a border tions on Iran within a specified time, arms shipments as well,” he added. guard at a checkpoint in east Jerusa- Iran will cease cooperating with the Faller also expressed concerns lem on Nov. 25. International Atomic Energy Agency over members of the large Lebanese Incidents of Palestinians throwing (IAEA) and expel its inspectors. diaspora in South America, including rocks and Molotov cocktails in the Iran’s Defence Minister also in Venezuela, having ties to Hezbollah. West Bank have reportedly increased said Fakhrizadeh’s organisation, the over recent weeks. Defence Research and Innovation Organisation (SPND), would have its RUMOURS: KHAMENEI budget doubled. UNWELL IRAN’S PARLIAMENT On Dec. 6, an Iranian reporter- EXPANDS NUCLEAR in-exile claimed that Iran’s Supreme PROGRAM NUCLEAR SCIENTIST Leader, 81-year-old Ayatollah Ali Following the Nov. 27 assassination SECRETLY RECORDED Khamenei, transferred powers to his of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the head of According to Israeli media re- son, Sayyid Mojtaba Hosseini Khame- Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the ports in early December, Israel had nei (51), due to health concerns. Iranian Parliament (Majlis) passed a obtained secret recordings of as- The news was vehemently denied by law calling for an increase in the scope sassinated Iranian nuclear scientist Iranian officials. and scale of the program. While the Mohsen Fakhrizadeh discussing his Additional sources suggest that bill itself has existed for some time, work, including mentioning plans to Khamenei recently cancelled some it has now been ratified by the Coun- manufacture “five warheads”. Mate- scheduled meetings. In 2015, interna- cil of Guardians as a response to the rial from Iran’s secret nuclear archive tional media reported that Khamenei assassination. exposed by Israel confirmed that the suffers from prostate cancer. The law requires the Atomic En- Amad project, headed by Fakhrizadeh, In addition, the Arabic press ergy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) to was aimed at producing five nuclear claimed that another leader close to increase uranium enrichment levels to warheads. the regime in Teheran, Hezbollah head 20% – far above the 3.67% allowed Israel’s former prime minister Hassan Nasrallah, was considering by the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) Ehud Olmert reportedly privately moving to Iran, or may have already – which would drastically cut the played the secret recording to then-US done so. time needed to refine it to military president George W. Bush during his The unconfirmed reports stated grade. The JCPOA only allows Iran to visit to Jerusalem in May 2008. that the move was discussed between retain a stockpile of 202.8 kg of low Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards enriched uranium, but the new law Corps and Hezbollah. Other sources orders the AEOI to stockpile 150kg of IRANIAN SOLDIERS claimed that Nasrallah had cancelled uranium enriched to 20%, as well as REPORTEDLY PROPPING all travel and boosted security around increase stocks of low-enriched ura- UP VENEZUELAN REGIME himself in light of the killing of 10 nium (which are already at 12 times On Dec. 2, the top US military Fakhrizadeh.

AIR – January 2021 just prior to the Chanukah holiday, and continue until Jan. 2. ISRAEL-BAHRAIN AGREE A recent resurgence saw 1837 ON NEW TOURISM AND new infections recorded on Dec. 7,

DIRECT FLIGHTS the highest number in nearly two NEWS BEHIND THE On Dec. 1, Bahrain’s Minister of months. Industry, Commerce and Tourism Despite this, Israeli shopping malls, Zyed Bin Rashid al-Zayani arrived in museums and outdoor markets – Israel with a delegation of around 40 Joyful Ethiopian immigrants arrive in Israel which had remained closed even after businesspeople. Al-Zayani and Israeli the partial lifting of restrictions in Tourism Minister Orit Farkash-Haco- herself arrived in Israel as a child in October following the country’s sec- hen signed a historic memorandum of the 1984 Operation Moses airlift, ond lockdown in September – were understanding (MOU) regarding tour- which brought 6,000 Jews from Ethio- allowed to re-open on Dec. 9. ism in Jerusalem. It is the first MOU pia to Israel. As of Dec. 11, Israel had recorded of its kind between Israel and an Arab Thousands more Jewish Ethiopians 352,397 cases including 2,961 deaths, Gulf state. are today seeking to emigrate to Israel. with 16,045 cases still active. In the Al-Zayani also signed an MOU to Around 140,000 Ethiopian Jews live West Bank, there were 104,879 cases allow direct flights between Tel Aviv in Israel today. and 910 deaths recorded, with 25,254 and Manama for the first time. The active cases, while Gaza had 26,817 first direct flight is reportedly sched- total cases. uled to take place on Jan. 7, 2021. ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN On Dec. 3, a delegation of Arab COVID-19 NUMBERS Israeli doctors, organised by Physicians On Dec. 8, following legal chal- for Human Rights – Israel (PHRI), NEW MISSILE BOATS FOR lenges, Israel’s coronavirus cabinet entered Gaza to provide free medical ISRAELI NAVY cancelled a planned nightly curfew treatment for Gazans and training for On Dec. 2 Israel took delivery that was to begin the following day, Palestinian medical teams. from Germany of the first of four new missile boats which form part of a blown up to obscure the evidence. major naval upgrade to help counter This second explanation was met with the threat from Iran. considerable scepticism among experts, Head of naval operations, Rear who noted significant risks such as the Admiral Eyal Harel, said the new fleet REMOTELY POSSIBLE? unmanned gun being detected or run- of Sa’ar 6-class corvettes – equipped The Nov. 27 killing of Mohsen ning out of ammunition, not to mention with “the (most) sophisticated radar on Fakhrizadeh, the head of Iran’s nuclear the high precision required to shoot one board any vessel in the world” – would weapons program and senior Islamic individual from a sizeable distance. strengthen the navy’s capacity to Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) offi- Thus, on Dec. 6, Brigadier-General defend offshore natural gas rigs against cer, was no doubt hugely embarrassing to Ali Fadavi, the IRGC’s deputy com- attack from the Teheran-backed Leba- Iran’s rulers and security establishment. mander, said the machine gun was nese Shi’ite terror group Hezbollah. That is probably why explanations equipped with an intelligent satellite sys- about how it happened have been increas- tem and was using artificial intelligence. ingly far-fetched. Seemingly, an assassina- At least the reason Fakhrizadeh was NEW WAVE OF ETHIOPIAN tion carried out by more exotic means killed seemed straightforward – his leading IMMIGRATION TO ISRAEL makes the failure to protect such a high role in Teheran’s secret nuclear weapons More than 500 members of Ethio- value target more excusable. project. However, Iranian Defence Minister pia’s Jewish community arrived in Initial reports suggested that his con- Brigadier General Amir Hatami claimed it Israel on Dec. 3 and 4. Their arrival voy was stopped when a truck exploded was because Fakhrizadeh “had recently in- marked the first phase of a plan to on the side of the road, after which a team novated a Corona test kit…and they didn’t bring around 2,000 Ethiopian Jews to of assassins emerged and shot him dead. want us to succeed in this struggle.” Israel by the end of January, in what However, this explanation quickly Ten days after the killing, an Israeli has been named “Operation Rock of changed to claims that a remote-con- flag and a sign reading “Thank you Israel”. trolled machine gun mounted on the Mossad” was hung from a bridge in The mission is being headed by truck shot at his car as he drove past, and Teheran. So far, no Iranian authority has Israel’s Absorption and Immigration then shot him when he got out to investi- claimed it was placed there by remote Minister Pnina Tamano-Shata, who gate. Only then was the truck supposedly control or satellite. 11

AIR – January 2021 COVER STORY NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES IRRECONCILABLE DIFFERENCES

WHY A FOURTH ELECTION LOOMS IN ISRAEL

by Amotz Asa-El

ury-rigged from the start, it held to- Jgether for a scant seven months. Only created last May, Israel’s 35th Government seems to have reached the end of its journey after the Knesset approved a bill to disband itself on Dec. 2. The Knes- set’s House Committee subsequently tabled a bill for a new election, suggesting it be held on March 16. The political saga that preceded the vote appears to have left its protagonists little choice but to march toward yet another general elec- tion, Israel’s fourth in hardly two years. Technically, Israelis will likely be called to elect the 24th Knesset a mere 23 months Estranged and heading back to the polls: Israeli Defence Minister and Alternative Prime Minister Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after they elected the 21st, because their government failed to pass a state budget. banding the coalition he was building. Furious over Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Yet what drove Blue and White was not differing inter- disregard for repeated demands to introduce a budget as pretations of the coalition agreement. It was frustration required by the coalition agreement, Netanyahu’s main and distrust. coalition partner, Blue and White, decided to support an The coalition deal signed last April between Netanyahu opposition bill to disband the Knesset. and Blue and White’s leader Benny Gantz was the most Just what motivated Netanyahu’s inaction is a matter of complex in Israel’s political history. interpretation. Netanyahu claims constraints caused by the Though Blue and White and its two satellite parties coronavirus pandemic made it better to work for a while brought only 17 lawmakers to the coalition – as opposed without a long-term budget’s fiscal brakes. to Likud’s 36 with another 16 from three satellite parties – There is logic to this argument, considering that the the agreement gave both the Likud camp and the Blue and coalition agreement said the budget would be biannual, White camp 16 cabinet seats each. In addition, Gantz and a commitment that became difficult to meet given the Netanyahu were to rotate the premiership between them, sudden need to provide aid to shuttered businesses and with Netanyahu going first and then Gantz getting the top support to nearly a million newly jobless people. job in Nov. 2021. However, the coalition agreement was written when Moreover, Blue and White received both the Defence the pandemic was already raging. Blue and White argues Ministry, the most powerful and prestigious position in any that Netanyahu inserted the clause stipulating a biannual Israeli government after Prime Minister, and the high- 12 budget in order to create a pretext for prematurely dis- profile Foreign Ministry.

AIR – January 2021 It was a shaky structure from the outset, and distrust Netanyahu’s response, a flat denial of all charges and an animated the coalition’s work pretty much from day one, insistence on remaining in office, created a constitutional when Blue and White’s demands that the Government crisis. His rivals insist an indicted prime minister must step appoint a state prosecutor and police commissioner to fill aside until his legal situation is resolved. His supporters vacancies in both crucial posts were left unanswered. Both say that if any indictment forces the departure of a prime NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES positions have been filled by interim substitutes through- minister convicted of no crime, this would amount to giv- out the Government’s short tenure. ing the judicial system the ability to overturn the will of Gantz’s sense that Netanyahu was deliberately foot- Israeli voters at any time without having to actually prove dragging on practically all issues was heightened by Likud’s any malfeasance. failure to allow the ministerial legislation committee to The sense of historic crisis has been further exacerbated assemble. Blue and White increasingly felt they were be- by Netanyahu’s insistence that he has been the victim of a ing manoeuvred to stand in the conspiracy which encompasses background as extras in a show “Following Netanyahu’s indictment, the the judiciary, the media, and the Netanyahu was producing, di- political plot thickened as the veteran police. recting and starring in. PM lost the support of three key conser- Following Netanyahu’s Perhaps most painfully, vative allies” indictment, the political plot Netanyahu kept Gantz in the thickened as the veteran PM lost dark concerning the normalisa- the support of three key conser- tion agreements he crafted with the United Arab Emirates, vative allies. Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco – with the assistance of the First, following the 2019 election, Netanyahu lost United States – and didn’t even have Foreign Minister Gabi former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman of the Israel Ashkenazi, Gantz’s number two in Blue and White, attend Beitenu (“Israel our home”) party when he repeatedly the signing ceremony at the White House. refused to join Netanyahu’s coalition. Then, in last winter’s Increasingly, Blue and White’s leaders also felt Netan- election, Netanyahu lost Naftali Bennett, also a former yahu had no intention of fulfilling the rotation agreement, defence minister, after Netanyahu refused to appoint him preferring instead to return to the polls sometime before health minister to lead the coronavirus response. the handover to Gantz in November next year. Finally, Likud lawmaker and former education minister These were the circumstances that ultimately led Gantz Gideon Sa’ar announced his resignation from the Likud to put his foot down and announce that he and his party on Dec. 8 in order to run independently as head of a new would support the opposition’s bill to disband the Knesset. party, expected to be called “New Hope”. Once a Netan- Ugly though this divorce is, the outgoing Government yahu protégé, the 54-year-old Sa’ar is popular among Li- can boast one significant cooperative achievement. kud members and was widely seen as a leading contender A so-called “Corona Cabinet”, headed jointly by Netan- to succeed him. yahu and Gantz, met regularly, monitored the medical situ- Sa’ar will be joined by Communications Minister Yoaz ation, managed a lockdown system, created compensation Hendel and Knesset Defence and Foreign Affairs Commit- packages, and purchased in advance the vaccines that will tee Chairman Zvi Hauser, both former Netanyahu aides hopefully end the pandemic that was this Government’s who ran as part of Blue and White, and then created their original raison d’être. own faction. In this regard, the outgoing coalition upheld a 53-year In losing Lieberman, Netanyahu lost some of the tradition, whereby Israel responds to national emergencies Russian-speaking electorate. In losing Bennett, Netanyahu with unity governments. That is what happened in the 1967 risked losing some of the modern-Orthodox elector- Six Day War, in the 1984 economic crisis, and in the 2001 ate. In losing Sa’ar, he risks losing some of Likud’s core war with Palestinian terror known as the Second Intifada. supporters. However, the political ailments that predated the Given the coalition arithmetic which always applies in medical crisis that gave rise to this Government will not Israel, whereby amassing 61 seats from disparate parties is be cured by its demise, and in fact will likely only become the key to government, it was Lieberman’s departure from worse. the Netanyahu-led conservative bloc that lay at the root of Israel’s repeated electoral indecision since Dec. 2018. sraeli politics was initially thrown into turmoil by Ideologically, however, Lieberman’s critique of Netanyahu INetanyahu’s legal entanglements. Three separate charge is not focussed on his personal conduct, but on his con- sheets against him involving allegations of bribery, fraud, cessions to the ultra-Orthodox sector on various issues, and breach of trust have created an unprecedented situ- especially exemptions from conscription. ation whereby an Israeli prime minister is in office while Bennett, meanwhile, has also largely avoided discussing under criminal indictment. Netanyahu’s legal situation, attacking instead his perfor- 13

AIR – January 2021 mance, claiming Netanyahu mishandled the pandemic Whatever the centre’s ultimate configuration, between twice: first, by refusing to let the IDF lead the response them Gantz, Lapid, Sa’ar, Bennett and Lieberman look to COVID-19, a task for which it had both resources and likely to collectively command too many Knesset seats for contingency plans; and secondly, by imposing a sweep- Netanyahu to remain in power, unless he can somehow

NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES ing lockdown which, according to Bennett, unnecessarily find a way to win support from at least one of them. If that debilitated thousands of businesses. is indeed the result of the upcoming Israeli poll, Sa’ar’s Sa’ar, meanwhile, charges that under Netanyahu’s rule jab may prove to have been for Netanyahu’s career what all internal debate within Likud came to an end and the Brutus’ famous stab was to Julius Caesar. long-established party instead became the Prime Minister’s personal cheer squad. Before Sa’ar’s announcement, polls suggested that Bennett’s Yamina (“Rightward”) faction – which currently IS NETANYAHU NOW has six Knesset seats – could win more than 20 seats, and thus become the second largest faction. Sa’ar’s new party FACING AN UPHILL is expected to syphon off some of that electorate, and also possibly further shrink Likud, as well as take votes from STRUGGLE? Blue and White. The first question the approaching election raises, by Haviv Rettig Gur therefore, is whether Bennett and/or Sa’ar would be open to joining a centrist coalition to unseat Netanyahu. he first shipment of coronavirus vaccines from Pfizer On the one hand, that would be disagreeable to Tlanded in Israel on Dec. 8, with Prime Minister many of their potential voters. On the other hand, Binyamin Netanyahu on hand at Ben Gurion Airport to any deal Netanyahu might offer them for their sup- welcome the flight and make sure he got the full measure port would likely appear unreliable to them, especially of credit for its arrival. considering what happened between Netanyahu and Gantz. Furthermore, if both Bennett and Sa’ar were to enter a coalition with centrists, conservatives could not credibly accuse either of them of betraying the Right by abandoning Netanyahu. Another key question is what will happen with Gantz and his estranged political partner, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid (“There is a future”) party. Lapid went into the last three elections as Gantz’s key colleague and second-in-command in Blue and White. The pair parted ways in the wake of the pandemic, which Gantz thought demanded a broad government, while Lapid insisted a narrow government without Netanyahu was Veteran Likud lawmaker and Netanyahu protege turned rival Gideon both obtainable and imperative. Both men now say they are Sa’ar open to a reconciliation, but only if the other will agree to It’s a moment that could have signalled the beginning of follow his lead. a turnaround for Netanyahu’s political prospects, the start of the return of right-wing voters to his Likud party after they had been abandoning it in recent months in anger at the Government’s handling of the pandemic. But an hour after the plane’s arrival, Likud MK Gideon Sa’ar handed in his resignation to Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, and set back Netanyahu’s hopes for victory by a long way. Netanyahu was already in trouble before Sa’ar’s an- nouncement on Dec. 7 that he was launching his own party. Naftali Bennett’s right-wing Yamina party has been polling at between 19 and 24 seats for several months now, and Bennett is widely believed to be seeking to oust Ne- tanyahu from power. If the polls are even close to right – if 14 Bennett can draw even 15 seats on election day – Netan-

AIR – January 2021 yahu will not have enough seats alone to ensure the current join a future government under his stewardship – is of his prime minister is also the next one. own making. Nor will Netanyahu have any willing partners across If one takes even a cursory look at the leaders of the the aisle. After his refusal to fulfill his rotation deal with centrist and right-leaning parties whose backing Netan-

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, it will be hard to find yahu needs if he is to sidestep Sa’ar or Bennett and pro- NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES a political leader in the current Knesset willing to sign a duce his future coalition, one finds a long list of people similar agreement with him in the next one. who believe they were abused and betrayed by Netanyahu One Israeli radio station managed over the years. to commission and publish a flash Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor poll between Sa’ar’s announcement Lieberman was once Netanyahu’s of his new party on Dec. 7 and the closest confidant, rising to the post Dec. 8 morning news broadcasts. of director general of Netanyahu’s Sa’ar would win a stunning 17 seats, Prime Ministerial Office during it found. his first term as premier in 1996. The poll, produced by Panels After they fell out in 1998, Lieber- Politics, showed Sa’ar’s broad ap- man spent years building his own peal on the centre-right. He would Yisrael Beiteinu party in the hopes draw three to four seats apiece from of one day merging it into Likud and Likud, Blue and White, centrist Yesh returning to his old home, a goal Atid, and rightist Yamina. stymied repeatedly by Netanyahu. That’s bad news for Netanyahu, It was Lieberman’s refusal to especially after Sa’ar openly declared ever again serve with Netanyahu that his opposition to Netanyahu’s leader- denied the Likud leader a govern- ship and vowed not to serve in a ment after the April and September government with him. elections in 2019. Likud had changed, said the for- Waiting in the wings: former right-wing allies of Bennett, together with fellow mer party no. 2, becoming “a tool for Netanyahu turned antagonists Avigdor Lieberman Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked, once ran the personal interests of the person (top) and Naftali Bennett (bottom) Netanyahu’s office and served as his in charge” and “a cult of personality.” chief of staff from 2006 to 2008, “I can no longer support the Netanyahu-led government before experiencing a similar falling out. Netanyahu has or be a member of a Likud party led by him… Today Israel spent the years since working hard to undermine Bennett needs unity and stability – Netanyahu can offer neither.” at every turn. That’s a more direct challenge to Netanyahu, and a In the current Knesset, Bennett and Lieberman hold more explicit vow not to serve with him, than anything a combined 12 seats between them. In every poll for the Yamina leader Bennett has said in public. past five months, they account for 25 or more. In the past, All of which turns Sa’ar’s initial polling numbers into a Netanyahu wasn’t able to form a right-wing government potential existential political threat to Netanyahu. without seven-seat Yisrael Beteinu. He will now have to According to the poll, Sa’ar, among the most popular contend with a 25-seat Lieberman-Bennett alliance bent figures among the Likud rank and file until he challenged on seeing him out of office. Netanyahu’s leadership last year, moves some four seats Sa’ar is only the latest Likudnik to abandon the party from pro-Netanyahu Likud to an anti-Netanyahu offshoot. over his disgust with its leader. Netanyahu is now sur- And while he also weakens Yamina and Yesh Atid, it is Ne- rounded by people with both personal and political tanyahu who cannot afford the drop. grudges against him that they’re willing to take to the bal- The danger is now so acute for the Prime Minister that lot box. it quickly became a matter of conventional wisdom among Netanyahu managed to thread the needle for years, Israeli pundits that Netanyahu would look for ways to avert handing both Lieberman and Bennett ever-increasing an election at the last minute, even if it means passing a political prizes up to and including the Defence Ministry state budget for 2020 and 2021 and being forced to hand – after publicly declaring both unfit for the post – to keep the rotating premiership to Gantz, as promised in the them from abandoning him. agreement the two men signed back in May. . If Bennett draws 19 seats in the next election (never mind 24, as some recent polls have given him), no defence ENEMIES minister post will suffice. But it’s not clear Netanyahu has The tragedy for Netanyahu is that his current predica- more to give. Would Bennett agree to a rotating premier- ment – the dwindling ranks of those likely to be willing to ship, given Netanyahu’s very recently broken commit- 15

AIR – January 2021 ments to Gantz? What of Sa’ar, flush with 17 seats (or, to the last thing the Jewish state needs. In April and Septem- be safe, even just 12)? What will he demand of a Netanyahu ber of 2019, and then again in March of this year, Israelis he knows he cannot trust? headed to the polls to elect a Knesset. Each time resulted Likud has 36 seats in the current Knesset, and 16 more in a stalemate with neither Netanyahu nor his chief rival COVER STORIES NAME OF SECTION in the two ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah – Blue and White Party leader Gantz – able to muster a Judaism, which have stuck loyally by Netanyahu in recent majority. years. That’s 52 seats reliably in Netanyahu’s corner, nine The standoff finally ended in April of this year, when short of a minimum 61-seat parliamentary majority. Gantz split his party by joining a unity government with But that’s the outgoing Knesset. The next Knesset, Netanyahu. Doing so made no political sense for him since according to the latest polls, could see the Likud-ultra the only point of Blue and White was to topple the prime Orthodox bloc drop to just 41. minister rather than to enact different policies. But realis- That’s less than the whopping 43 seats that right wing ing the futility of the continued stalemate and responding anti-Netanyahu parties (Sa’ar, Yamina, Yisrael Beytenu) may patriotically to the crisis that the coronavirus pandemic get. With the centre-left now led by the firmly anti-Netan- presented to the nation, he decided that throwing in with yahu Yair Lapid, Netanyahu appears to be running out of options.

Haviv Rettig Gur is the Times of Israel’s senior analyst. © Times of Israel (www.timesofisrael.com), reprinted by permission, all rights reserved.

BIDEN AND THE CASE Tough road: Benny Gantz deserves credit for his patriotic decision to join up with nemesis Binyamin Netanyahu in the face of the corona- FOR ISRAELI ELECTIONS virus crisis his nemesis was the right thing to do. by Jonathan S. Tobin Many in his own party denounced him as a traitor and a fool. The terms of the deal he cut with Netanyahu not his isn’t what Israelis want to hear right now, but they only brought the rump of Blue and White who stuck with Tneed to hold another election. The prospect of a new him an outsized share of government posts, it also offered administration in Washington is cause for concern, even him a pathway to the prime ministership since it called for if it may not prove to be the end of the world. But the the two to switch jobs in 18 months. Yet few at the time challenge that the new administration will pose requires thought Netanyahu would stick to that deal, and noth- Jerusalem to speak with one voice. ing that has happened in the eight months since then has An Israeli government with the prime minister’s office changed anyone’s mind about that. at odds with both the defence and foreign ministries is a Netanyahu is a political mastermind, and his ability to luxury the Jewish state might have been able to afford as outmanoeuvre and undermine Gantz – a former chief of long as President Donald Trump was in the White House, staff of the Israeli Defence Forces who is still a novice in and the US-Israel relationship was one rooted in close co- his new profession – at every turn has made the conduct of operation and a common vision about strategic issues. But the country’s government a dismal spectacle. Though the with President-elect Joe Biden about to take office with a tall, handsome and personable Gantz seems like a political foreign-policy team committed to many of the Middle East consultant’s dream candidate, his inability to keep up with policies of the Obama administration, Israel’s margin for Netanyahu has made the power struggle within the cabinet error is about to be reduced. something of a mismatch. And with the Prime Minister Even if that means that Israelis must suffer through the personally managing the country’s key responsibilities – agony of a fourth election inside of two years, a divorce the relationship with Trump and Israel’s new Gulf state between unity government partners Prime Minister Bin- allies, as well as its defence strategy – Gantz’s frustration yamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz has at being boxed out by the Prime Minister at every turn has become a necessity. been painfully obvious to all. After having held three inconclusive elections inside of As long as Washington was prepared to follow Netanya- 16 a year, yet another trip to the ballot box would seem to be hu’s lead, and largely ignore Gantz and his Blue and White

AIR – January 2021 colleague Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, this farce had concessions far too beneficial for Iran, as far as Israelis no impact on anything other than the two ex-generals’ were concerned. egos. Faced with this challenge, Israel must demonstrate But with US foreign policy about to be put in the hands internal unity. This begins with discipline in speaking with of Obama administration alumni, Israel’s divided Cabinet the press. Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu can NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES is about to be transformed from a cruel comedy at Gantz’s enforce this with a directive for officials speaking on or off expense into a distinct political liability for the country. the record, with reporters or in official meetings. A Biden administration will not be content, as Trump’s Such a directive should have the support of Netan- was, to let communications between the two governments yahu’s coalition partners, including Defence Minister be managed through the friendly conduit of Israeli Am- Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, and be bassador to the United States Ron Dermer, who reports enforced across the rest of the Israeli bureaucracy dealing directly to Netanyahu. Biden and Secretary of State-des- with the Iran file. This was the way the Israeli expert team ignate Antony Blinken may not be about to seek the same worked with the six world powers involved in negotiat- “daylight” that President Obama tried to create between ing the JCPOA. The Israeli team, under clear instructions, the two countries. But their differences with the Israeli explained to the negotiators their concerns while trying consensus on the impossibility of peace with the Palestin- to mitigate the JCPOA’s mistakes and improve the flawed ians and the need to confront, rather than appease, Iran are deal on the margins. bound to create trouble. Such a unified message should also be crafted with The stakes involved in properly managing relations with Israel’s new peace partners in the Middle East. The United Biden and avoiding the kinds of conflict that happened Arab Emirates and Bahrain harbour similar concerns about under Obama are too high for Israel to continue with a Iran. Israel must coordinate closely with them and perhaps dysfunctional coalition. other governments, such as the Saudis, to speak with one Holding an election during a pandemic, or even one voice. The concerns of America’s regional partners were held while the arrival of a vaccine may be starting the pro- ignored last time. They should not be ignored again. cess of ending the crisis, won’t be easy. In voicing their concerns, Israel and its new friends No matter what choice Israelis make, they’ll be better must be wary of joining forces with US Republicans who off with a government not at war with itself. Whether it is are also opposed to making concessions to Iran. Indeed, led by Netanyahu or someone else, the end of the Trump this cannot appear to be a partisan issue. At the same time, era in Washington should also mean the end of Israel’s lat- it is not a bad idea to convey that the next presidential est unhappy experiment in “unity”. election in 2024 could yield a different policy, making any business with Iran very risky. Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS – the Jewish News Israel and its partners must also convey that Iran’s ma- Syndicate. © JNS.org, reprinted by permission, all rights lign activity has not ceased. Since 2018, when the United reserved. States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, the regime has engaged in nuclear blackmail, enriching more uranium, installing new and advanced centrifuges in underground facilities, and taking other dangerous steps in the nuclear ISRAEL, BIDEN AND arena. IRAN In fact, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently issued an unusually harsh report on Teheran’s violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran’s by Jacob Nagel

ollowing President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory, Fthe United States is widely expected to re-enter nego- tiations with Iran. In advance of the election, some advis- ers to Biden circulated a white paper exploring a return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the flawed 2015 nuclear deal. One controversial option was a return to the interim 2013 deal, the Joint Plan of Action, which yielded Iran hundreds of millions of dollars as a show of good faith. Israel is understandably concerned by the possibility of go- ing back to a process that yielded sanctions relief and other 17

AIR – January 2021 vanced centrifuges, increased research and development, and underground or clandestine facilities. Any future agreement cannot allow underground facilities, open possible military dimensions questions, or allow weap-

COVER STORIES onisation groups such as the now-sanctioned organisation known by its Farsi acronym, SPND. Finally, the JCPOA included dangerous “sunset” clauses. These are terms of the deal that expire over the course of a decade or so. If sunset clauses are included in a new deal, they should be set to expire many decades from now. Iran must not be led to believe that it has a patient pathway to nuclear weapons. By deploying advanced centrifuges like these IR-6s, in violation of the JCPOA nuclear deal, Iran is gaining the ability to “sneak out” to a Some might say these terms would never be accepted nuclear weapon by Teheran. This is the wrong mindset for negotiations. The next administration should bring its demands and be nuclear safeguards agreement, and the 2015 nuclear deal. in no rush to negotiate. After all, America has many other That report is backed by documents the Mossad captured challenges in the wake of the pandemic and global ten- from Iran’s atomic archive, not to mention site visits in sions with China, Russia, and North Korea. If Iran’s regime Iran by the nuclear watchdog. Recent IAEA visits yielded wants sanctions relief and an end to the current Adminis- new and interesting findings about Iranian violations. tration’s “maximum pressure” campaign, it should be ready Unfortunately, the international community has failed to compromise at the negotiating table. The new admin- to take decisive action. The Iranians wisely waited for the istration must categorically reject the assertion by Iran’s US election in the hope that they might be able to outlast leaders that the US should atone for President Trump’s current pressure. Israel and its partners should convey to Iran policy. the incoming administration that this cannot be rewarded. Some Biden advisers may believe that sanctions relief Biden wants a new agreement. That in itself is not the will help achieve an agreement and help avert conflict. problem – Israel wants one too. The devil is in the details. This, too, is wrong. Sanctions represent leverage that will Israel must press for the next deal to be a good one that help America reach the right agreement and prevent con- does not enable Iran to continue its nuclear activity. A new flict. Without sanctions and a credible military threat, the agreement must not be more of the same with minor im- Islamic Republic will not come to the table or negotiate provements. The goal must be to establish new, clear terms meaningful changes to the last deal. to address the absurdity of Iran’s “civilian nuclear program” Sanctions can also help push the regime for other in underground facilities. Moreover, a new agreement changes in behaviour. But Israel and its partners must dif- should include all three elements of Iran’s illicit nuclear ferentiate between the nuclear program and other con- program: fissile materials, weaponisation, and means of cerns. Indeed, it would be a mistake to bind Iran’s terror delivery. support or malign actions in Syria and Lebanon to the Weaponisation is very difficult to define and monitor. nuclear negotiations. After solving the nuclear problem, all This was made clear from the atomic archive. Therefore, others can be tackled. Merging the two can lead to danger- the next deal must require the regime to come clean about ous nuclear concessions. all previous activities. No deal can be concluded without Important decisions await the incoming administra- Teheran’s admission of previous violations and declaration tion. It must move deliberately and wisely, learning from of its past inventory. mistakes of the past. Israel can help, particularly if it speaks The means of delivery, namely ballistic missiles, in one voice and coordinates carefully with other partners requires more than United Nations resolutions that are seeking to prevent a return to the flawed agreement of subject to interpretation. The next deal should unequivo- 2015. cally halt the development of missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Brigadier General (Res.) Jacob Nagel is a senior fellow at the Fissile materials (uranium and plutonium), along with Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and a visiting all the technology necessary to produce them, should be professor at the Technion Aerospace Engineering Faculty. He completely banned and monitored by the IAEA. There previously served as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s acting must be no room for negotiation on this. national security adviser and head of Israel’s National Security The US and its allies must also stop hyper-focusing on Council. This article originally appeared in the Washington “breakout time.” This is an outdated concept. Iran will not Examiner. © FDD (www.fdd.org), reprinted by permission, all 18 “break out” but will rather “sneak out” to a bomb via ad- rights reserved.

AIR – January 2021 NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES

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AIR – January 2021 rakech, Casablanca, Tangiers and Fez via third countries for A Peace Resonant many years. Once the two countries establish diplomatic relations and open direct air-links, that number can be with History expected to increase dramatically. NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES In 1995, following the 1993 Oslo Accords, Morocco and Israel opened mutual “liaison offices,” but they were The Israel-Morocco normalisation deal closed a few years later after the Second Intifada broke out in 2000. Both Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Israeli Prime by Raphael Ahren Minister Binyamin Netanyahu cited the long and deep ties binding Morocco and Israel in their statements on the he surprise announcement on Dec. 9 about Morocco historic agreement. Tagreeing to establish diplomatic relations with Israel “Everybody knows the tremendous friendship shown was not a Chanukah miracle, as many Israeli politicians by the kings of Morocco and the people of Morocco to the gushed when they lit their Jewish community there. holiday candles, though And hundreds of thou- the timing was indeed sands of these Moroccan brightly appropriate. Jews came to Israel, and Rather, it had been a long they form a human bridge time coming, as the North between our two countries African kingdom has deep and our two peoples, of cultural and religious ties sympathy, respect, of fond- with the Jewish state, and ness and love,” Netanyahu had long been expected to said during a Chanukah join the current wave of ceremony at the Western Arab countries normalis- Wall. ing ties with Israel. “Morocco has played As opposed to Egypt a historic role in bringing and Jordan, which signed Morocco’s King Mohammed VI: He did not just suddenly decide to nor- the peoples of the region peace treaties with Israel malise relations, but saw an opportunity together and supporting decades ago, and in con- security and stability in the trast to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan, Middle East… [there are] special ties that bind the Jewish three Arab nations that normalised relations with Israel community of Moroccan origin, including those in Israel, this year, Morocco and Israel have a profound and ancient to the person of His Majesty the King,” a statement from Jewish connection, and the Moroccan Jewish community, Morocco’s royal court said. though small, still thrives today. Still, the King did not suddenly decide that his love for Moroccan Jewry’s origins date back 2,000 years, to the the Jewish people required him to recognise the State of destruction of the Second Temple and exile. In the modern Israel; it was rather a US-brokered deal that pushed him to era, the community reached a high of some 250,000 in take the plunge. the early 1940s, when Sultan Mohammed V resisted Nazi Trump announced, in a tweet followed by an offi- pressure for their deportation. Numbers dwindled with cial proclamation, that Washington as of now recognises the establishment of Israel, and today only some 2,000- Moroccan sovereignty over the entire Western Sahara 3,000 Jews remain, but hundreds of thousands of Israelis territory and “reaffirms its support for Morocco’s serious, are proud of their Moroccan origins. US President Donald credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis Trump’s senior envoy Jared Kushner on Dec. 10 put that for a just and lasting solution to the dispute over the West- number at “over a million.” ern Sahara territory.” The mimouna party, which the community traditionally The UAE got an Israeli commitment to halt plans for a celebrates right after Passover ends, has become a fixture unilateral West Bank annexation and it appears to have se- on the Israeli cultural calendar, with countless people cured the F-35 fighter jets it long coveted. Sudan got taken barbecuing in parks and politicians rushing to as many off the US terror list and received promises of massive aid. mimouna celebrations as possible, eating mufletot and other And Morocco got a first, vital Western country to formally Jewish-Moroccan delicacies. recognise its claim over the contested territory claimed by While Israeli tourists have begun discovering the Gulf the Algeria-backed Polisario group, which seeks to estab- 20 only very recently, they have been flocking to Rabat, Mar- lish an independent state there.

AIR – January 2021 Some countries, like France and a few members of next vacation, hoping to see where their parents and the Arab League, have long supported Rabat’s claim to grandparents once lived. Western Sahara, but so far no country has formally recog- nised the kingdom’s sovereignty over the entire area. (The Raphael Ahren is the diplomatic correspondent at the Times of

Emiratis in October opened a consulate-general accredited Israel. © Times of Israel (www.timesofisrael.com), reprinted by NAME OF SECTION COVER STORIES to Morocco in the Western Sahara city of Laayoune, which permission, all rights reserved. some analysts consider as de-facto recognition.) Evidently, King Mohammed reasoned that incoming US President-elect Joe Biden would be unlikely to make the move, so he took advantage of Trump’s last 40 days in office. IMPLICATIONS OF Netanyahu on Dec. 9 predicted a “very warm peace” THE FAKHRIZADEH with Morocco, but time will tell if the kingdom’s 35 mil- lion citizens — virtually all Muslim Arabs — will wel- ASSASSINATION come the deal as warmly as Emiratis and Bahrainis have. According to a recent poll, only 16 percent of Moroc- by Ardavan Khoshnood cans have a favourable view of Israel, while a whopping 70% view Israel unfavorably. In contrast, three-quarters n Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, at 18:17 Iranian local time, of respondents expressed positive sentiments toward the Othe Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics Palestinians. (MODAFL) of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a press The survey, conducted by Jerusalem-based pollster release stating that Mohsen Fakhrizadeh had been assas- Mitchell Barak on behalf of the Konrad Adenauer Foun- sinated. It confirmed that a car containing Fakhrizadeh dation, also found that only 17% of Moroccans support had been attacked and that he was fatally injured during Israel’s Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain, while a shootout that broke out between his attackers and his two-thirds oppose them. Indeed, only 26% believe that security detail. Israel has a right to exist, according to the poll. Information on Fakhrizadeh is highly limited. His full In a call to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud name was Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Mahabadi, and he was Abbas on Dec. 9, King Mohammed reiterated his staunch born in 1957 or 1958 in the religious city of Qom. He was support for a two-state solution, stressing that his position married and had three sons. He was a brigadier general was “unshakably supportive of the Palestinian cause.” of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a The monarch was reportedly expected to participate professor of nuclear engineering. He was linked with Imam in a phone call with Netanyahu and Trump soon after that, Hossein University, which is run by the IRGC. but it’s noteworthy that he felt it necessary to speak to the Fakhrizadeh is believed to have been the architect of Palestinian leader first. the Islamic regime’s nuclear program, and his alias in In the call with Abbas, the King also noted his “distin- governmental communications is assumed to have been guished relations with the Jewish community of Moroccan Dr. Hassan Mohseni. He worked as a senior scientist at the origin, including hundreds of thousands of Moroccan Jews MODAFL and previously headed the Ministry’s Physics in Israel,” according to a readout provided by the royal Research Centre (PRC). Because of his vital role in Iran’s court. nuclear program, he was included in Foreign Policy’s 2013 Many of those Israelis may already be planning their list of the world’s 500 most powerful individuals. Because

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AIR – January 2021 of Iran´s refusal to allow the International Atomic Energy so poor as to leave it vulnerable to its opponents and/or Agency (IAEA) to interview Fakhrizadeh with respect foreign powers that are able to hack important databases to his time as head of the PRC, the UN Security Council and networks and thereby map sensitive individuals and sanctioned him in Resolution 1747 (March 2007). locations.

COVERNAME OF SECTION STORIES At the time of his killing, Fakhrizadeh was head of And third, the country’s intelligence community could the Organisation of Defensive Innovation and Research be compromised. If this is the case, it means individuals (SPND). The SPND, based in Teheran, is supervised by the inside Iran’s intelligence organisations are disclosing infor- MODAFL and is focused on nuclear weapons research. mation directly to opponents of the Islamic regime. Coincidentally, Fakhrizadeh´s assassination took place on the same day that the trial of an Iranian diplomat, As- IRANIAN REACTIONS TO THE sadollah Assadi, began in Belgium. Assadi stands accused of ASSASSINATION plotting to bomb an Iranian opposition rally in 2018. Soon after Fakhrizadeh’s killing, Iranian officials blamed Fakhrizadeh was assassinated at approximately 14:00 the “Zionists” and, as is customary, threatened the enemies local time in the city of Absard, of the Islamic Republic. 70km from Teheran. According Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ba- to the Fars News Agency, a van near gheri, the armed forces Chief Fakhrizadeh’s car exploded simul- of Staff, stated that “severe taneously with a salvo of gunfire revenge awaits the perpetrators from a team of assassins. Iranian of the assassination of martyr Minister of Defence Brig. Gen. Fakhrizadeh.” Amir Hatami said in an interview IRGC Commander-in-Chief that it was the explosion of the Maj. Gen. Hassan Salami said, van that caused Fakhrizadeh´s “the perpetrators will be severely fatal injuries. He said Fakhrizadeh punished,” while Chief Justice was attacked while “traveling near Ebrahim Raisi wrote in a message Teheran today” without disclosing that everything possible will be exactly where he was going. done to punish the offenders. Fakhrizadeh’s killing is be- Speaker of the Iranian Parlia- lieved to be the fifth assassination ment Muhammad Bagher Ghali- of a scientist connected to the baf, himself an IRGC commander, Iranian nuclear program. The full declared, “Today, the way of list is as follows: Majid Shahriari appeasement is closed” and called (Nov. 29, 2010); Dariush Reza- The alleged site of the assassination (top); Fakhrizadeh’s for revenge. einejad (July 23, 2011); Masoud state funeral (bottom) Minister of Intelligence Mah- Alimohammadi (Jan. 12, 2012); moud Alavi assured the Iranian Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan (Jan. 11, 2012); and Fakhrizadeh people in a press release that the Ministry “will avenge the (Nov. 27, 2020). blood of the dear martyr from the perpetrators.” There is no doubt that these assassinations, other at- The day after the killing, Brig. Gen. Esmail Gha’ani, tacks on the Iranian nuclear program, the killing of IRGC Commander of the IRGC Quds Force, said in a written Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, and the recent statement that he sympathised with Fakhrizadeh’s fam- slaying of al-Qaeda´s number two, Abu Muhammad al- ily and promised to “ally with all the forces defending the Masri, in Teheran in August, collectively constitute a grave Islamic homeland in avenging the blood of this dear martyr counterintelligence failure on Iran´s part. and all the martyrs of the terrorists and their masters.” The elimination of Fakhrizadeh was highly profes- The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued sional and well-planned. The assassins had vital knowledge a statement demanding that those who conducted and mas- of both Fakhrizadeh´s security detail and his route. How terminded the killing must be “severely punished.” could this be? Iranian newspapers published various reactions. Hard- There are three possible scenarios, and they are not line and government-linked newspapers like Resalat and mutually exclusive. Iran, as well as centrist and pro-reform papers like Etemad, First, it could be that Iran’s counterintelligence organ- Ettelaat, Hamshahri and Shargh, all used quite neutral head- isations are weak, unstructured, and highly amateurish, lines on their front pages. Three other papers used more and are not able to take even the most basic precautions to confrontational headlines. secure their intelligence and protect important officials. The IRGC-linked Vatan-e Emrooz (Homeland Today) 22 Second, the regime’s technical knowledge might be printed on its front page: “They Will Strike If We Don’t”.

AIR – January 2021 The conservative Kayhan printed Khamenei’s statement on is important and one should not rush into things, Dehghan its front page calling for the severe punishment of those concluded, “We will descend like lightning on the killers of involved in the assassination. this oppressed martyr and we will make them regret their The English-language Tehran Times had a longer headline actions!” on its front page stating that Israeli footprints with the The day after the assassination, Iranian President Hassan COVER STORIES NAME OF SECTION backing of the “incoming US” government could be seen. Rouhani, in a meeting at the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Disease Management, mentioned the assassi- HOW WILL THE ISLAMIC REGIME nation of Fakhrizadeh and stated that “the relevant authori- RESPOND? ties will respond to this crime in a timely and appropriate The elimination of Fakhrizadeh is a massive setback and manner.” an embarrassment for the Islamic Republic. As it has thus far failed to avenge the killing of Soleimani in more than a Dr. Ardavan Khoshnood, is a non-resident associate at the Begin- token way, there will now be renewed demands for retalia- Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University (BESA tion. What, then, are the regime’s options? centre), and a criminologist and political scientist with a degree in Doing nothing is not an option, and the regime will intelligence analysis. He is also an Associate Professor of Emer- have to act both at home and abroad. Domestically, the gency Medicine at Lund University in Sweden. © BESA centre, coming days – maybe weeks – could see operatives from reprinted by permission, all rights reserved. the Ministry of Intelligence arresting one or more individ- uals on suspicion of links to the killing. In accordance with the regime’s modus operandi, these people will be paraded on TV, admit to working for Israeli intelligence, and then YET MORE EXTREMIST be executed. As far as options abroad are concerned, the regime has VOICES IN AUSTRALIA two choices: save face or go to war. Scenario one is the EXPOSED more likely. However, in order to show that it has done something, the regime might conduct a limited operation in which missiles or mortar shells are fired at Israel by by Ran Porat Iranian proxies. In this way, Teheran will show that it has retaliated and will thus save face. Behind the scenes, Iran ontinuing my ongoing coverage of this topic, below will of course continue its malign activities against Israel Care yet more examples from the past few weeks and other countries deemed to be enemies of the Islamic of extremist, antisemitic and hateful comments in the Republic. Arabic language media in Australia, and amongst local Scenario two would entail a serious Iranian attack Australian Muslim voices here. These toxic messages in- along the lines of coordinated raids on Israeli embassies, clude both vehement anti-Israel declarations and calls for the firing by Hezbollah of more powerful rockets at Israel, violence in light of the tension between the French lead- attacks on US forces in the region, or the launching of mis- ership and extremist Islamists following recent Islamist siles at the UAE and Saudi Arabia. terror attacks in that country. These more extreme scenarios are highly unlikely, as they would put Teheran on the brink of all-out war—a AUSTRALIAN MUSLIM TIMES (AMUST) result the regime does not want at present. While Iran Responding to the killing of Iran’s chief nuclear weap- probably will respond to the killing at some point in a ons program scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on Nov. 27, larger manner (as in the case of the attack on the Ayn Assad the Australian Muslim Times’ (AMUST) December editorial Airbase in Baghdad, which was a response to Soleimani’s claimed, “Israel gets away with murder behind the cloak of killing), this will most likely take place after Joe Biden has antisemitism.” The paper’s editor, Zia Ahmad, argued that been sworn in as president of the US. Until then, Teheran “While the notorious Israeli secret service Mossad led by may well show restraint. its director for the last five years, Yossi Cohen is stealthily There are already indications that Iran will not act wheeling and dealing with Arab autocrats coercing then too rashly. On the day of the killing, Brig. Gen. Hossein (sic) into normalising relations with Israel, it keeps assassi- Dehghan, a prominent IRGC commander, presidential nating civilians all over the world that it considers a threat candidate for the 2021 elections, and current military aide to the Jewish state.” to the Supreme Leader, tweeted: “In the last days of their In an argument reminiscent of antisemitic tropes about gambling ally’s political life, the Zionists seek to intensify the wealth and power of Jews, Ahmed concludes that and increase pressure on Iran to wage a full-blown war.” “Treatment of Israel, as the holy cow who can not (sic) be After writing an Iranian proverb suggesting that patience touched in spite of all its excesses and its secret service 23

AIR – January 2021 that can get away with murder, by the rich and powerful ness from the Ummah”, warns Al-Wahwah, “by Allah you supporters of Israel in Western capitals is immoral, unjust [Muslim soldiers] do not deserve to be humans!” Glorify- and illegal and must be challenged.” ing death, he promises Muslims serving in military roles, The December AMUST edition also featured an article “Jannah [heaven] awaits you! The glory of Islam awaits you!

COVERNAME OF SECTION STORIES analysing the results of the US presidential elections, by Saving the Ummah awaits you! Liberating Al-Aqsa awaits Dr Aslam Abdullah, stating that “The US does not ex- you!” ist to patronise dictators, and human rights violators in During a protest in Sydney against French President India, Israel, Saudi Arabia, or any part of the world. The Emmanuel Macron on Nov. 7, leading HuT Australia primary obligation of a US Administration is to serve preacher, Wassim Doureihi, conspiratorially stated that the Americans and not the state of Israel or the multinational terror attack in Vienna on Nov. 2 by an Islamic State sym- corporations.” pathiser was not what it seemed. Doureihi claimed that the Toeing the same line, the editors of AMUST chose to person accused of the attack was “miraculously” released publish in the paper’s readers’ comments section a com- from prison by the Austrian authorities, who then allowed ment by “Burhan”, labelling both US vice president-elect him to purchase weapons and to freely enter Austria from Kamala Harris and former US ambassador to the UN abroad. Nikki Haley – “Slave[s] of America and Israel.” Hinting that the Austrian Government, and other governments, are behind both this attack and most other HIZB UT-TAHRIR AUSTRALIA Islamist terror attacks, Doureihi proclaimed, “[T]his is a Isma’il al-Wahwah (also known as “Abu Anas”), leader story that we hear in this country and in so many other of the Australian branch of the pan-Islamic Hizb Ut- countries, that people here in Australia who are monitored Tahrir (HuT) movement, has often made headlines with more than anyone in this country miraculously appear in his hateful rhetoric, peddling of conspiracy theories and places and at times that are convenient only to the state, antisemitic views, including Holocaust denial and calls for only to the government.” the destruction of Israel. Recently, he also blamed Israel for the Beirut blast and SHEIKH YOUSSEF NABHA labelled the Jewish state a Shi’ite preacher Sheikh Youssef Nabha of the Arrahman “cancer”. Mosque in Sydney is a supporter of the Iranian regime and In October, al-Wah- a fervent anti-Zionist. Last year he blamed the bushfires in wah posted on social Australia on the close relations between Prime Minister media his video, “A Mes- Scott Morrison and Zionists in Australia. Despite this out- Australian Hizb Ut-Tahrir leader sage to the Officers and landish claim, he was recently awarded a special honorary Isma’il al-Wahwah Armies!” In it, he urges certificate from NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane. soldiers in Arab states to Nabha used his weekly Friday sermon on Oct. 23 to answer the call to serve the Islamic nation, “Otherwise, attack Macron, stating that “What the French President being underground is a million times better for you than to and his hateful media did [condemning extremist Islamists] be on Earth’s surface. By Allah, you do not deserve the air is no less in criminality than the criminal act” of the Jihadi that you breathe.” terror attack by Muslim fanatics against people outside a Al-Wahwah calls on these Muslim soldiers to free church in Nice (Oct. 29). Al-Aqsa (Jerusalem). “O Quds … It’s crying with tears Nabha further argued that the West is in fact respon- of blood. Palestine is crying tears of blood!” If they fail sible for the terror attacks by Muslims, because of what he to “bring the battle to a decisive end and clear this dark- claimed was Western support for Islamic terrorist groups such as ISIS and Al-Qaeda. With Compliments “It is no secret that what the West is suffering [from] now is a result of their support of the Takfiri [infidel] movements that have distorted Islam and made both Mus- lims and Christians suffer from their crimes in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon… Muslims will not accept the West using the Takfiri criminals again to offend the messenger of human- ity Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) desecrate the sancti- ties of the Muslims and insult them,” he concluded.

21 Evans Street WISAM HADAD Braybrook VIC 3019 According to the US-based Middle East Media Re- 24 www.peerlessfoods.com.au search Institute (MEMRI), Sydney-based Wisam Hadad is

AIR – January 2021 “a central figure in the radical Salafi and jihadi community that two thirds of young Americans do not know that six in Australia and among English-speaking jihadi followers on million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, and one in social media.” 10 adults under the age of 40 does not believe the geno- His video titled, “The Ultimate Response On The In- cide happened. The survey involved interviewing 10,000 sults Of Our Prophet”, was posted on his social media ac- people between the ages of 18 and 39 – 200 from each US NAME OF SECTION counts and accumulated close to 1,500 views on the Salafi state. Meanwhile, a 2019 poll in the UK found that one Central YouTube channel. It starts with a short excerpt in 20 British adults does not believe the Holocaust hap- from a French ISIS song called “Blood for Blood”. pened, and 8% said that the scale of that genocide has been As expected, Hadad attacks President Macron for his exaggerated. condemnation of extremist Islam, arguing that freedom of Thankfully, there are a number of initiatives now being speech in the West is hypocritical because it allows people undertaken in Australia to ensure that children are being to “insult the Messenger of Allah and the Muslims” on the taught about the Holocaust and its universal lessons. Fol- one hand, while forbidding others, for example, to defame lowing disturbing reports of antisemitic incidents at public the Anzac forces in Australia. He also notes that “in some schools in Victoria last year, in February the Victorian Gov- countries of the world, including this one [Australia] it is ernment announced various illegal to speak about the Jews that were killed in the Ho- programs to counter anti- “Over the past ... locaust, killed by Hitler. It is punishable in these Western semitism and also stated that years, the Gandel countries to speak against them in a bad way or in a bad education on the Holocaust Holocaust Studies term” and that could lead to jail. “So you can see that this would be mandatory for Program for Austra- freedom of speech they [the West] talk about is not that Years 9 and 10. The Victo- free,” he claimed. rian Minister for Education lian Educators (‘the Hadad calls on Muslims to react to attacks on the James Merlino stated, “It is Gandel Holocaust prophet, which are punishable by death both for Muslims critical that each generation Studies Program’) has and non-Muslims: “My dear brothers, we should know that understands how hatred trained around 350 we should react in whatever way [we can] […] A person and discrimination led to Australian teachers who insults [the prophet] – Muslim or not – is to be put to something as horrific as the the sword... And we do not and we should not hide away Holocaust in order to fight to both teach about from this.” intolerance and prejudice in the Holocaust and our own communities.” explore its universal Dr. Ran Porat is a research associate at the Australian Centre for While Holocaust edu- implications” Jewish Civilisation at Monash University, a research fellow at the cation on its own is not International Institute for Counter-Terrorism at the Interdisci- sufficient to stop antisemitism, it can help in countering plinary Centre in Herzliya and a research associate at the Future religious, racial and political sources of anti-Jewish hatred, Directions International Research Institute, Western Australia. and is of course essential to learn about in and of itself. Currently Victoria and NSW are the only states in Aus- tralia to make education on the Holocaust compulsory, de- spite it being included in the Australian curriculum which all states and territories are expected to use as a guide. LESSONS THAT MUST In February, Minister Merlino announced that the Victorian Government would work with Gandel Philan- NOT BE FORGOTTEN thropy and the Jewish Holocaust Centre to review and develop resources for the Victorian curriculum based on adaptations of existing teaching resources and les- by Sharyn Mittelman son plans produced by the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Memorial Centre in Jerusalem. eventy-five years after the Holocaust ended, its mem- The Victorian Government appears to have called on Sory is tragically already fading from public awareness. Gandel Philanthropy for assistance because of its impres- As the last survivors pass away, it has become critical sive track record in the area. Over the past 11 years, the to preserve their testimonies and teach their stories to Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educa- future generations, especially as antisemitism and Holo- tors (“the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program”) has trained caust denial become increasingly widespread online. around 350 Australian teachers to both teach about the Survey after survey has revealed shocking results. In Holocaust and explore its universal implications using an September 2020, a survey commissioned by the Confer- inter-disciplinary and age appropriate approach. ence on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany found 25

AIR – January 2021 GANDEL HOLOCAUST STUDIES PROGRAM Recently, Philanthropy Australia conferred its Bolder Philanthropy Award on Gandel

NAME OF SECTION BIBLIO FILE Philanthropy and the Australian Foundation for Yad Vashem in recognition of the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program. This award cat- egory acknowledges “philanthropic investment that is used as ‘social risk capital’ to provide early stage support for an initiative, helping to scale or evolve it to deliver sustained positive change.” Over the years, the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program has expanded from being a learning segment at Yad Vashem into a year- long professional development program for Melbourne’s Jewish Holocaust Centre teachers across Australia. It includes pre- departure online learning elements and the delivery of a May. The Working Group was comprised of representa- Holocaust educational project by teachers in their schools tives from the Department of Education and Training, the upon return. Key partners in the program include the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and sev- Australian Foundation for Yad Vashem, the Raoul Wallen- eral Jewish community organisations including: the Jewish berg Unit of B’nai B’rith Victoria, the Jewish Holocaust Holocaust Centre; Jewish Museum Australia; Courage Centre, Sydney Jewish Museum, Courage to Care Victoria, to Care; the Jewish Community Council of Victoria; the and B’nai B’rith NSW. International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (repre- Natalie Baker, who completed the program in 2012, sented by Sue Hampel OAM); Yad Vashem (represented said of it, “The Gandel Program is such an effective pro- by Richelle Budd Caplan); Monash University’s Australian gram because it humanises the Holocaust in classrooms. Centre for Jewish Civilisation; the United Jewish Educa- It provides current best practice pedagogy and resources tion Board; and five graduates from the Gandel Holocaust for teaching the personal narratives of survivors, and gives Studies Program. guidance on how to approach challenging content such as Many of the Working Groups’ recommendations have Holocaust Denial and Antisemitism. It gives teachers ac- been adopted by the Victorian Government, and on Dec. cess to world-class educators, and that access doesn’t start 9, the Victorian Minister for Education, James Merlino, or finish with the study tour to Yad Vashem.” announced that new teaching and learning resources will She added, “There is now a network of like-minded be ready for schools in 2021 to teach the Holocaust and teachers across Australia who are a pretty connected com- address antisemitism. The announcement stated: “This munity, who have a chance to share ideas and resources includes lesson sequences, a bibliography of Holocaust-re- relevant to Australian educational needs, and this is invalu- lated texts and a comprehensive suite of historical sources able as we try and build a Holocaust-aware society.” that teachers can draw on to enhance existing or develop Duane Galle is a graduate of the program from 2013, new Holocaust education programs. There will be more and is currently a teacher at Banora Point High School in than 280 resources available such as diary extracts, docu- NSW. Since returning from the program he has developed ments, interactive online exhibitions, virtual tours, poems, a number of educational resources for teaching about the newspaper articles, videos and images.” Holocaust. He told AIR: “Since completing the program It added, “New school policy and teaching guidelines I’ve become an advocate for Holocaust education. I’ve have also been developed that includes a requirement for delivered professional development to teachers at national schools to teach the Holocaust in secondary schools in Year and state History Teachers’ Association conferences, run 9 or 10.” webinars for teachers throughout NSW, and developed The Victorian Government also announced $50,000 teaching programs and resources that are now used by well in funding for the Jewish Holocaust Centre to develop a over 100 teachers throughout NSW and Australia.” professional learning program for teachers to help them develop learning programs in Victorian secondary schools, VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT REVIEW as well as increased funding to Courage to Care. A Steering Committee and Working Group for the Vic- In addition, the Victorian Government has established torian Government’s review of curriculum and resources a dedicated hotline to report racism intended for use by 26 regarding education on the Holocaust was established in schools, students and parents, and created a new student

AIR – January 2021 advisory group to make recommendations on addressing caust units of upwards of 10 hours. I think this is excellent, antisemitism and ensuring Victorian schools are inclusive and would like to see the NSW Education system develop communities. exemplar units of work and teaching resources. At this Commenting on the experience of working with the stage this is being done by the Sydney Jewish Museum,

Victorian Government to improve education on the Holo- but a more coordinated ‘top down’ approach would help NAME OF SECTION BIBLIO FILE caust, the Jewish Holocaust Centre’s Director of Education get in-depth Holocaust education into more schools. I Lisa Phillips told AIR: “It was a privilege to co-chair the also think there is value in providing opportunities for working group with the Department of Education... Over the Holocaust being taught in non-history settings (such three months, 13 amazing individuals representing diverse as English and art), which is an area that both the Gandel organisations with differing priorities, working under CO- Program and the education unit of Yad Vashem have been VID conditions, united in the goal of the project and the working towards.” passion for excellent Holocaust education.” As the memory of the Holocaust fades, not simply Regarding teacher training, she added, “Our 10 step education on the Holocaust, but quality education on the professional development plan has been created to give Holocaust and quality professional development for teach- schools and teachers confidence in using the guidance ers, become critical. material and resources now available on FUSE [a learning The Gandel Holocaust Studies Program has certainly resources database]. It is designed to support schools if played a significant role in achieving this goal, and over the they have not implemented Holocaust studies into the cur- years its alumni have taught thousands of students across riculum or for those teachers and schools who would like Australia. assistance in ensuring they are teaching this difficult topic The Jewish Arts Quarter in Melbourne, currently being in a meaningful and engaging way. Our trial will begin in developed with Victorian Government and local Council 2021.” support, and which will include a remodelled Jewish Holo- Natalie Baker also participated in the Working Group to caust Centre and Jewish Museum of Australia/Gandel Cen- help develop resources for the teaching of content related tre of Judaica, will also play a vital part in teaching future to the Victorian History Curriculum. Discussing the ex- generations. And while it may initially have been slow to act perience, she said, “It was invaluable professional develop- on reports of antisemitic incidents in public schools, the Vic- ment, really honing in what we considered to be essential torian Government has done a commendable job by making Holocaust education for Victorian students. Collectively, education on the Holocaust mandatory and developing best we used our knowledge bank to find the best, most appro- practice resources to help teach about it. If implemented priate resources that would be most accessible for student successfully, these could be used as a model for other juris- needs. It was an incredible collaborative experience, some- dictions in Australia and around the world. thing that was an extraordinary process to be a part.” Similarly, Gandel Philanthropy’s CEO Vedran Draku- lic praised the Victorian Government’s work with Jew- With compliments from ish community organisations, telling AIR: “It has been a fantastic collaborative success, beyond our expectations. I congratulate the Department for doing it and taking up recommendations, but also for being very collaborative to ensure they had the best materials they could get.” He added, “But it’s not the end of the journey, other state governments can do the same thing, capitalise on it, under- take a similar process themselves. First and foremost, they should set the policy framework which makes education on the Holocaust mandatory in years 9 and 10, because we feel that story is important to be told, not as an optional ANKA one but as a compulsory one.” PROPERTY GROUP As a teacher in NSW, Galle argues that NSW could improve how it teaches about the Holocaust, “The fact that NSW has mandated Holocaust education for all Year 10 Level 3, 179-191 New South Head Road students since 2012 is fantastic. However, it is often cov- Edgecliff, NSW 2027 ered in a very superficial manner and generally by teachers Phone: (+61 2) 9302 3000 with no specific training in Holocaust education. The Year 10 curriculum also allows schools to develop their own www.ankaproperty.com school-based units, and many are now delivering Holo- 27

AIR – January 2021 Talking is the essence of recognis- ing each other’s humanity. Yet some pro-Palestinian reviews have insisted there has been too much talking.

BIBLIO FILE NAME OF SECTION But at base, McCann is onto something. Over the past 20 years, the Palestinian Authority has spent only A Novel Approach a handful of months in direct peace talks with Israel. Hamas, none at all. Despite this appeal to the two na- tions’ better angels, the book’s over- Apeirogon riding theme seems to be ‘here are the Colum McCann, Bloomsbury, 2020. 224 pp. $29.95 Palestinians who are victims of Israelis and here are Israelis who agree that the Palestinians are their victims.’ by Allon Lee McCann is eager to show Jews, Ar- abs, Christians and Muslims how they share a common cultural patrimony, peirogon (pronounced “a para- Palestinian town Anata in the West writing in one chapter: Agon”) is a new novel from Irish Bank hit Abir in the back of the head. “[Eliezer] Ben-Yehuda, like author Colum McCann that delves Aramin had an epiphany when he Einstein, said that Jews and Arabs into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. learnt about the Holocaust whilst in were mishpacha, a family, that The title refers to an object with jail for carrying out a terror attack. they should share the land and an infinite number of sides and The percentage of the book that live together. Many of the new complexity. is actually factually true is unclear. Hebrew words that he helped While Apeirogon was longlisted for A rider at the start says, “Bassam and coin were derived from Arabic this year’s Booker Prize, the eventual Rami have allowed me to shape and roots. The two were, he said, sister winner was Shuggie Bain, by first-time reshape their words and “The book’s over- languages which, like novelist Douglas Stuart, and based on worlds.” riding theme seems the people, could live his own lived experience of poverty in An afterword says, with and alongside Glasgow, Scotland. “This is… a work of to be ‘here are the one another….The By contrast, McCann’s novel has storytelling which, like Palestinians who are bombs went off near nothing to do with his own story. all storytelling, weaves victims of Israelis the conjunction of Ben Rather, it is the fictionalised together elements of and here are Israe- Yehuda and Ben Hilel account of two other real people – speculation, memory, lis who agree that Streets, also known as Rami Elhanan, an Israeli, and Bassam fact, and imagination.” Hillel Street, named Aramin, a Palestinian. McCann deals with the Palestinians are after Hillel the Elder, Both men belong to an organisation the complexity and their victims” author, in the first called Combatants for Peace which the trauma of the two century before Christ, is dedicated to promoting dialogue fathers by keeping the reader off of the ethic of reciprocity: That between Israelis and Palestinians by balance. which is hateful to you, do not do “speak[ing] out: against the Occupa- The narrative is not chronological. to your fellow.” tion, humiliation, murder, torture.” Time is elastic. Many of the chapters Yet questions of authenticity ripple Both men have experienced the contain only a few sentences and throughout the text. unfathomable loss of their daughters. many seemingly bear no connection The provenance of the ancestors of Rami’s daughter, Smadar, 14, was to the main story. the Israeli protagonists is noted. Most murdered in a suicide bombing in Despite the confusion, Apeirogon’s of them are from European nations. 1997. message is not obscure – Israel’s oc- The Palestinians, meanwhile, are Aramin lost his ten-year-old cupation must end and the ongoing repeatedly depicted as rooted in the daughter Abir in 2007 – when he was conflict is not inevitable but a choice. land. Indeed, Aramin says he was born already a member of Combatants for McCann’s prescription is simple, in a cave. Peace. A stray rubber bullet fired by courtesy of a bumper sticker that says, Elsewhere McCann writes: 28 an Israeli soldier during clashes in the “It will not be over until we talk.” “The Israeli hospital. At Ein

AIR – January 2021 Kerem. An ancient Palestinian The ortolan is a tiny endangered ment and Sanctions movement against village, once… Where Smadar was bird that is prepared by French chefs Israel. born.” for a decadent and illegal meal, con- McCann writes of Israelis accus- Archaeology shows Ein Kerem was sumed in one gulp. Custom dictates ing Matti Peled of being a traitor for a Jewish village during the time of the the meal be eaten under a napkin to meeting with PLO chairman Yasser NAME OF SECTION BIBLIO FILE 1st and 2nd Temple – long predating hide the shamefulness of the act. Arafat, but also of his trenchant criti- the term “Palestinian”. But that is not Other recurrent and problematic cism of the Oslo Accords – damned noted. themes include references to Chris- by him in 1994 before they were even It is hard not to feel that McCann tian martyrdom and intimations that given a chance. has missed a trick. Israel is exploiting the Holocaust to The Elhanan/Peled family are, of justify its actions. course, entitled to their own political Also contentious is the false opinions. equivalence made between the deaths But do other less radical Israelis of the girls Smadar and Abir. not crave an equitable solution? Is the one murdered in a deliber- Also contentious is McCann’s deci- ately planned suicide bombing attack sion to ignore Israeli PM Ehud Barak’s in Jerusalem’s busy Ben Yehuda Street offers in 2000/01 to create a Palestin- really the same as the other who was ian state, which, if Arafat had accepted in the wrong place, at the wrong time instead of initiating the terror of the Irish author Colum McCann and died after being shot by a rubber Second Intifada, might have averted Decades before Zionism got its act bullet that, in most instances and by Abir’s death in 2007. together, resistance, violence and anti- design, will not kill? Yet, unlike Arafat’s exhortation in semitism were directed at the trickle Was the Israeli family, who are 1974 to the UN – “Do not let the ol- of Jews who arrived in the Holy Land. hardly typical, the best choice to focus ive branch fall from my hand” – which In 1881, the Sultan ordered that on? appears in the book five times, Barak Jews could settle anywhere in the Ot- Of Smadar’s mother, Nurit, Mc- doesn’t rate a mention even once. toman Empire bar the Land of Israel. Cann writes: And what of other consequential Maybe this was too trivial. “The killing was not the fault Israeli leaders? In his effort to inject some humility of the bombers, she said. The Smadar is depicted disparaging into the sides, the book is a veritable bombers were victims too. Israel Shimon Peres – the real father of cornucopia of trivia seemingly unre- was culpable. The blood was on its Oslo, the historic breakthrough that lated to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict hands. On Netanyahu’s hands. On led to both sides talking openly for but apparently intended to show how her own hands too, she said. She the first time. everything is interconnected. was not immune, everyone was Some pro-Palestinian critics have Sometimes it is interesting, other complicit. Oppression. Tyranny. objected to the book’s title on the times it is just trite, such as the chap- Megalomania. She was shown on grounds that it implies there are two ter which states that: national TV. Pundits said she was sides and the issue is complex – which “The M-16 used to shoot Abir just in shock. It wasn’t shock at they insist is not true. was manufactured near the town of all, she replied. The only shock There is nothing new in this view Samaria, North Carolina…Samaria was that the Palestinian bombings of the Jewish presence in Israel. also being home of the ancient didn’t happen more often. “Israel Amos Oz’s pithy observation that capital of the Kingdom of Israel.” was inviting its own children to be the conflict “is a clash between right slaughtered, she said. They might and right” has never enjoyed much any chapters have an orni- as well put Semtex in their school- traction on the Palestinian side. Mthological focus, hinting that bags. It would never be at peace Given the book is a catalogue of borders are artificial, and birds who until it recognized this.” damning allegations against Israel, it is enjoy more freedom than Palestin- That would be Nurit Peled- hard to understand their objections. ians show there is a world that exists Elhanan, whose father, Matti Peled, At a more basic level, it is an beyond humanity’s petty squabbles. was once an Israeli general but undeniable truth that Israeli offers to Extending the bird metaphor, became one of its most radical “talk” to end the occupation have been McCann writes of the moment when peaceniks. rejected over and over again. Bassam’s daughter Abir is hit by a rub- Her brother, Miko Peled, is a well- Until that attitude changes, maybe, ber bullet “crushing the bones in her known US-based anti-Israel activist for now, there is nothing to talk skull like those of a tiny ortolan.” who supports the Boycott, Divest- about. 29

AIR – January 2021 Arab host states would have assumed responsibility for the refugees in their territories. ESSAY This was not to be. By the mid-

NAME OF SECTION ESSAY 1950s, it had become clear that the works and resettlement program was stillborn. From that point, UNRWA UNRWA’s Moment of was gradually transformed from a short-lived “relief and works” or- ganisation into a permanent, quasi- Truth governmental human development agency providing social welfare A chance for urgently needed reforms services of health care, shelter, and education – the very services that were supposed to be transferred to by Ron Schleifer & Yehuda Brochin the host countries. With the passage of time, UNRWA took on responsibilities traditionally eventy years after its found- General on Nov. 16, 1949, the mis- assigned to state institutions in the Sing with an 18-month mandate sion recommended that: fields of education, health, and social to provide emergency aid to the ...steps be taken to establish services. It began running its camps “Palestine refugees,” the United Na- a programme of useful public like a “phantom sovereignty,” to use the tions Relief and Works Agency for works for the employment of words of an Arab commentator. Palestine Refugees in the Near East able-bodied refugees as a first It did so by utilising a system of (UNRWA) has grown into a gargan- measure towards their rehabilita- camp services officers (CSOs) gleaned tuan US$1.2 billion, 30,000-strong tion; and that, meanwhile, relief, from among camp residents, who, “phantom sovereignty” that has done restricted to those in need, be more often than not, were known for more than any other international continued throughout the coming their political activism and/or affili- actor to perpetuate the “refugee year. These recommendations are ation with the reigning terror groups problem” it was established to solve. intended to abate the emergency (the Palestine Liberation Organisa- With the Trump Administration by constructive action and to re- tion [PLO], and later Hamas). CSOs’ having slashed US donations to the duce the refugee problem to limits de-facto authority extended, among agency, and the Gulf states and the within which the Near Eastern other things, to cutting off rations for Europeans demanding greater trans- Governments can reasonably be individuals who did not conform to parency regarding its finances and expected to assume any remaining UNRWA’s social and political agenda. operations, UNRWA may at long last responsibility. be approaching its moment of truth. The mission specifically stressed DRIFTING FROM THE the need for an 18-month program of MANDATE THE ORIGINAL MANDATE public works, “calculated to improve By way of disengaging from its AND ITS DEMISE the productivity of the area,” which specific short-lived original mandate The Lausanne Conference – con- was to be carried out in cooperation and consolidating its self-styled role vened by the UN Conciliation Com- with the Arab host states and to begin as a human development agency, mission for Palestine, April 27-Sept. 12, by April 1, 1950. UNRWA adopted a string of measures 1949 – failed to produce an agreement By way of implementing this rec- that ran in stark contrast to inter- on resettling the “Palestine refugees” in ommendation, UNRWA was estab- national law and practice regarding the host states as was the case with most lished on Dec. 8, 1949, beginning its refugees. These ranged from adopting global conflicts of the time. Conse- operations on May 1, 1950. a unique and highly inclusive defini- quently, the UN established the Eco- However, of greater significance tion of a refugee as “a needy person, nomic Survey Mission for the Middle than UNRWA’s founding date was its who, as a result of the war in Pales- East “to examine economic conditions intended termination date: Ration tine, has lost his home and his means in the Near East and to make recom- supplies to the refugees were to be of livelihood”; to registering hundreds mendations for action to meet the dislo- suspended by Dec. 31, 1950, with the of thousands of sham “refugees” on cation caused by the recent hostilities.” relief and works program ended by its initial rolls; to uniquely making 30 In its report to the UN Secretary- June 30, 1951 – by which time the the refugee status hereditary so as to

AIR – January 2021 allow its indefinite transference to employment with only a quarter of lish a de facto state-within-a-state and descendants of the original refugees; them (or 111,208 beneficiaries) living to use it as a springboard for subvert- to keeping on its rolls refugees who in UNRWA’s refugee camps. And ing the ruling Hashemite monarchy. became citizens of the Arab states in while there are certain differences This led to vicious internecine strife which they reside in flagrant violation between the rights of the Palestinian that culminated in the bloody events ESSAYNAME OF SECTION of the 1951 Convention Relating to refugees and those of Syrian nationals of the 1970 Black September in which the Status of Refugees, which denies (e.g., refugees cannot own more than thousands of Palestinians and Jorda- this status to any refugee who “has one home or purchase farmland), nians were killed, and in the PLO’s acquired a new nationality, and enjoys these have become largely irrelevant subsequent eviction from Jordan. the protection of the country of his given the mayhem and dislocation Having substituted Lebanon for new nationality.” of the 10-year-long civil war, which Jordan as its base for terror attacks have driven an estimated one-third on Israel, the PLO quickly established of the Palestinian community to join yet another state-within-a-state with the general population in fleeing the UNRWA refugee camps providing country. this terrorist entity with training and In Lebanon, where Palestinian deployment bases and serving as its refugees enjoy fewer privileges than foremost recruitment and indoctrina- in other Arab countries, UNRWA has tion centres. And as in Jordan, it did 475,075 registered refugees on its not take long before this destructive UNRWA’s headquarters in Gaza, where the rolls, about 45 percent of whom live in practice helped trigger in Lebanon UN body has always collaborated with the the agency’s 12 refugee camps. But the one of the worst civil wars in Middle PLO and Hamas in running the refugee first-ever official census of Palestinians East modern history, which raged for camps in Lebanon (published on December over a decade and claimed hundreds Thus, for example, some 1.9 mil- 21, 2017) showed that only 174,422 of thousands of lives. lion Palestinians in Jordan are reg- Palestinians lived in the country, These devastating experiences did istered as “refugees” despite holding providing further proof of UNRWA’s not dissuade UNRWA from close col- Jordanian citizenship and enjoying self-serving, inflated figures. laboration with the PLO in running the same rights and duties as their in- What this means is that there is no UN refugee camps in the West Bank digenous compatriots (with “only” 15 justification for continued international and the Gaza Strip. UNRWA’s educa- percent of them residing in UNRWA support for the millions of “Palestine tion system soon became the effective camps). refugees” who do not meet the stan- funder and distributor of the PLO’s As for the non-naturalised Pales- dard legal definition of this status and anti-Israel and antisemitic indoctri- tinian “refugees” in the Arab states, who receive far better treatment than nation after the terror group gained as early as September 1965, an Arab all other refugees. Most do not live in control over 95% of the territories’ League summit in the Moroccan city “refugee camps,” which, in any case, population in the 1990s as part of the of Casablanca passed a resolution that should have been disbanded years ago Oslo “peace process”. conferred on them a string of rights with their occupants moved to conven- and privileges, including the right to tional neighbourhoods – as envisaged aving committed itself in the equal employment and freedom of by UNRWA’s original mandate. HOslo Accords to eschewing anti- international travel. Israel incitement and to teaching In Syria, where UNRWA claimed POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP, “peace education” to its schoolchil- until recently some 450,000 regis- HATE INCITEMENT, AND dren, the PLO entered into a formal tered beneficiaries, Palestinian “refu- TERROR COMPLICITY arrangement with UNRWA on Aug. gees” enjoy most of the rights enjoyed In blatant disregard of its original 1, 2000, under which the UN agency by the indigenous population. They mandate to operate as a politically would adopt PLO-mandated content are not confined to refugee camps and neutral relief agency, UNRWA’s for all schoolbooks. The agreement can reside anywhere in the country, activities progressively acquired an further stipulated that PLO-issued with a 1956 law stipulating that they eminently political dimension that has schoolbooks would be the sole are to be treated as Syrians “in all gradually become embedded in the source of UNRWA’s curriculum. matters pertaining to ... the rights of Palestinian “resistance movement”. UNRWA offered the unconvinc- employment, work, commerce, and In the late 1960s, for example, ing excuse that adherence to the national obligations.” UNRWA’s acquiescence in the PLO’s “host state’s textbooks” was proper, Accordingly, Palestinians in Syria takeover of UN refugee camps in Jor- ignoring not only that this violated have not suffered from massive un- dan allowed the terror group to estab- its obligation to complete neutral- 31

AIR – January 2021 ity across its educational system but recruitment and indoctrination hubs. prejudice reinforce lingering doubts also that the PLO had never been a One example is the suicide bomber regarding its self-styled apolitical host state. A series of studies examin- who murdered 30 people (and image, its continued necessity, and ing UNRWA textbooks and teachers’ wounded another 140) at the Park indeed the legitimacy of its very

ESSAY guides in 2000-20 uncovered perva- Hotel Passover massacre of March existence. By comparison, while all sive anti-Israel and antisemitic incite- 27, 2002, which triggered Operation post-World War II refugee situations, ment, including: Defensive Shield, which was Israel’s involving tens of millions of displaced • Delegitimisation of Israel’s very largest counterterrorist operation persons (some 16 million in Europe existence and any Jewish attachment since the 1982 Lebanon war. Yet, to alone) were handled by the Interna- to the land of Israel, based on the sup- date, UNRWA has taken no steps to tional Refugee Organisation (IRO), posed exclusive Palestinian right to exclude these clubs from its facilities. established by the UN General Assem- the land. Far worse, when Hamas violently bly in December 1946 and succeeded • Demonisation of Israel and Jews expelled the PLO from Gaza in the in January 1951 by the High Commis- through the use of derogatory terms, summer of 2007 and took control sioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the references to evil, and attribution of of the Strip, UNRWA became ever Palestinians received their own relief wholesale culpability for any and all more entwined in the Islamist terror agency. Palestinian misfortunes. group’s activities: It employed numer- Nearly 70 years later, this unique • Outright rejection of peaceful ous Hamas members throughout its privilege has remained intact, with coexistence with Israel and calls for humanitarian and educational appara- UNRWA spending four times as much violent uprisings against it, with “mar- tus. In 2017, for example, two senior on each Palestinian “refugee” in 2016 tyrdom” and jihad taught as bedrock UNRWA officials in Gaza were forced as the UNHCR spends on refugees beliefs and values to be striven for. to resign after their election to Hamas’ elsewhere in the world: US$246 com- Small wonder that in June 2013, political bureau was publicly exposed. pared to US$58. UNRWA appointed “Arab Idol” singer In addition, UNRWA has ef- And while all other refugee Muhammad Assaf as its regional youth fectively supported Hamas’ terror problems were resolved in a timely ambassador even though, both before attacks on Israel. This ranged from manner by IRO/UNHCR, with the and during his time as ambassador, regular use of UNRWA schools dur- vast majority of displaced persons (in- he released songs and music videos ing summer vacations as paramilitary cluding Holocaust survivors) resettled extolling terror as well as dedicating training camps and the introduction elsewhere by refugee-welcoming performances to “martyrs” (i.e., slain of a military training program into nations, UNRWA built the “Palestin- terrorists). When an Israeli fan called the agency’s schoolwork, undertaken ian refugee problem” into a thriving into a radio show featuring Assaf, the by thousands of students every year enterprise, one that continually fed UNRWA youth ambassador replied, “I as part of their studies; to establish- the coffers of the Arab regimes and spit on you and Israel.” ing military facilities and stockpiling animated Western supporters who Yet, despite full knowledge of the weapons and military equipment in professed admiration and support for anti-Israel, anti-peace, and anti-co- close proximity to UNRWA schools every nascent post-World War II na- existence messages of Assaf’s musical – at times inside schools; to dig- tional movement – save for the Jewish content and appearances, UNRWA ging underground terror tunnels one. In the words of the late American renewed his contract for four more under UNRWA premises; to using economics professor Fred Gottheil: years, blatantly rebutting its own UNRWA’s facilities during military What is significant about 50 years “Peace Starts Here” slogan and a mul- encounters with Israel, including of UNRWA is ... that the majority titude of other declarations. transferring weapons and ammunition of Palestinians have reintegrated Aside from sponsoring an ambas- in UNRWA vehicles, firing rock- into the open economies of the sador of hate and violence and incul- ets and mortar shells on the Israeli Middle East and elsewhere de cating Israel- and Jew-hatred in its civilian population – a war crime in facto, and that most of those who schoolchildren, UNRWA also helped international law – from schoolyards still remain in refugee camps ... do spread incitement by hosting terror and near-school positions, to booby so in the Palestinian homeland. ... groups’ activities in its installations, trapping educational installations. the refugee status of the over- notably the Hamas-funded Islamic whelming numbers of Palestin- Bloc’s “student clubs”. AN AGENCY WHOSE TIME ian refugees should have expired Many Hamas terrorists willing to HAS GONE? somewhere along that 50-year sacrifice their lives in suicide attacks UNRWA’s decades-long col- range. ... And therein lies the es- have come from the Bloc’s branches, laboration with Palestinian terror sence of its moral hazard. UNRWA 32 which have long served as Hamas organisations and its blatant anti-Israel was reinvented to serve politi-

AIR – January 2021 cal agendas ... it became strictly While there have been numerous suspension of hostilities in return a caretaker agency, dispensing studies, audits, and assessments of for humanitarian aid, either di- entitlements to refugees who, by UNRWA’s operational deficiencies – rectly (e.g., regular flow of Qatari UNHCR standards, would not be from resistance to reform, to cover- money to Gaza) or indirectly (e.g.,

so defined. All this at enormous up of gender issues and sexual abuse training Gaza medical students in ESSAY cost. by UNRWA workers, to overall hu- Israeli hospitals, hospitalising seri- A number of myths have served man resource and commercial trans- ous COVID-19 patients in Israeli to perpetuate UNRWA’s self-serving action mismanagement- no indepen- hospitals). And the Arab states seem raison d’être as the agency morphed dent, external financial audit has ever less inclined than ever to make their into an enterprise never envisioned been demanded by the donor states to national interests captive to the by its original mandate, including account for the use, or possible abuse, whims of the Palestinian leadership “impoverishment” of refugees – de- of their decades-long massive dona- as evidenced by the recent normali- spite rejection of true rehabilita- tions to UNRWA. sation accords between Israel and the tion efforts funded in the billions How much of this money is spent United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and of dollars; “occupation” – despite on anti-Israel and antisemitic incite- Sudan and the strengthening rela- the fact that only a small part of the ment through funding of PLO-dic- tions between the Jewish state and entire “refugee” population resided tated textbooks and teachers’ guides? the other Arab states. in Israeli-controlled territories after How much money is spent on wages In addition, UNRWA faces its 1967, and that 95% of them had been for Hamas-affiliated employees who greatest challenge in decades after transferred to Palestinian rule by are not legally permitted to be on Washington, its largest donor, slashed 1996-97; and “economic strangula- UNRWA’s payroll, and how much its financial support while the UN’s tion” – despite the fact that the West on providing facilities for summer own oversight watchdogs investigated Bank and Gaza economy enjoyed an training of schoolchildren in terror- the agency’s financial irregularities, unprecedented economic boom due ism? And above all, how much donor as it pleads impoverishment over a to the vast opportunities provided by money is spent on perpetuating the deficit figure variously ranging be- Israel’s control of these territories in Palestinians’ “refugeedom” rather than tween US$332 million and over US$1 1967-97. to “start [the refugees] on the road billion. As these myths melt away – or to rehabilitation and bring an end to UNRWA’s plea seems to strike a at the very least are no longer sanc- their enforced idleness and the de- weaker chord even in the European tioned by Western and Gulf govern- moralizing effect of a dole,” to use the Union where the narrative of the ments – UNRWA reforms must words of the 1949 Economic Survey perpetually impoverished Palestinian respond to the growing calls for Mission, whose recommendations in- refugees seems to have worn thin and transparency regarding expenditures, formed UNRWA’s original mandate. where the unquestioned propping up governance, and the education of its Donor states are not only entitled of UNRWA’s failed mission is coming beneficiary children. to know how their taxpayers’ monies under growing scrutiny by those who are being spent but have an obligation used to be its most vocal champions. FIRST STEP TO REFORM and responsibility to assure that they As the Arab and Western states face Perhaps the most important step are spent on the purposes for which their long-overdue obligations to help UNRWA can take is to adopt the same they were donated, and not on those proactively resolve the Palestinian “ref- standards as the UNHCR. Specifically, that violate UN directives or interna- ugee problem,” the agency’s 70-year- UNRWA must take real measures tional law. To date, this has not been long “works” must either profoundly toward the ultimate resettlement of done. Only an audit by the donor reform or become irrelevant. refugees in the host states as envis- states will empower reform. aged by its original mandate, so as to Ron Schleifer is a senior lecturer at Ariel transform them from passive welfare he time has come for the geopo- University’s School of Communication, recipients into productive and en- Tlitical realities of the 2020s to be specialising in the Middle East and com- terprising citizens of their respective confronted head-on. The PLO, while munication issues. Yehudah Brochin is societies. This is not something that clinging to its eternal rejectionism a US-licensed attorney. He has taught can occur overnight, or even in a few as evidenced among other things by business law at the Jerusalem College of years, but unless a realistic 10-year its “destroy the Zionist entity” school Technology and has authored articles resettlement plan is crafted, the curriculum, is nevertheless not the on transparency and risk management. ever-increasing numbers of perpetual PLO of Yasser Arafat. Hamas, though Reprinted from Middle East Quarterly. “refugees” kept in squalid camps will still committed to its ultimate goal © Middle East Forum (www.meforum.org), never decrease. of destroying Israel, is amenable to reprinted by permission, all rights reserved. 33

AIR – January 2021 NAME OF SECTION

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AIR – January 2021 THE MONTH IN MEDIA QUOTEDNOTEDNAME OF SECTION AND

WHY’S AFTER THE FACT bargaining tools all the way back to A HANDSOME RANSOM Following the release of Australian the 1979 US embassy hostage crisis” News Corp columnist Andrew academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert from and as “a major state sponsor of ter- Bolt questioned the price paid to captivity in Iran, media discussion rorism with ongoing efforts to obtain secure Moore-Gilbert’s release (Nov. was dominated both by the possible nuclear weapons… must be met with 30), writing that “Iran has clearly reasons for Iran making ludicrous even harsher sanctions and interna- worked out we’re a willing customer spying charges against her and by the tional condemnation.” in the hostage trade. Its exchange rate price paid to free her. Dr. Moore- has rocketed from two Australians for Gilbert was freed in a deal that saw one Iranian last year [referring to two the release of three Iranians jailed in MOORE THAN MEETS THE travel bloggers released in exchange Thailand over a 2012 plot to attack EYE? for an Iranian man held in Queensland Israeli diplomats. ABC Radio National “Breakfast” pending extradition to the US], to one The Australian editorial (Nov. 27) fill-in host Hamish MacDonald (Nov. Australian for three Iranian terror- quoted US-based Iran expert and 27) asked former Australian ambas- ists today. That’s not because Moore- regular AIJAC guest Behnam Ben Tale- sador to Israel and current federal MP Gilbert is a big catch. She’s just an blu saying that the “outcome… would for Wentworth Dave Sharma if Kylie academic who was yet silly enough to embolden Tehran to engage in further Moore-Gilbert was more than just an fly to Iran two years ago for a confer- hostage-taking.” unlucky academic. ence. Silly because Iran is a paranoid AIJAC’s Colin Rubenstein was MacDonald said there were many Islamist regime that’s been arresting quoted warning that the freed Iranians “unusual things” and “glaring black foreigners on fake charges of spying. It “will again present a threat of terror- holes” and suggested it “was clearly is still holding men and women from ist violence to innocent people.” significant” that the Israeli Govern- Britain and the US – even an artistic The newspaper said the episode is ment was involved in the “discussions” affairs officer, a conservationist and a a reminder that “Iran is the most seri- over her release. journalist – as bargaining chips, and ous threat to Middle East peace,” ref- According to MacDonald, “It Moore-Gilbert was an easy mark. erencing its threats to “the existence strikes me as highly unusual that this She had an Israeli boyfriend, which is of the only democratic state in the whole thing would’ve been orches- catnip to Jew-hating ayatollahs. Even region”; support for Hamas, Hezbol- trated by Nick Warner, the Director better, she’s a citizen of Australia, lah, Houthis in Yemen and “surrogate General of National Intelligence here weak enough to pay blackmail. And forces… in the residue of the Syrian in Australia. Obviously, the fact that we paid a lot for her – agreeing to fly war”; the “unprovoked harassment of Kylie has a partner who is an Israeli three Iranian terrorists from Thailand vessels attempting to cross the Strait citizen was not reported, at least in back to Iran.” of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman”; Western media, during her period of On Channel 9’s “6pm News” (Nov. not to mention Iran’s “cyber capabili- captivity…does this all tell us some- 26), political editor Chris Uhlmann ties” and ongoing commitment “to the thing about how highly valued Kylie said, “this was a highly complex ex- acquisition of nuclear weapons.” Moore-Gilbert was?” change which would have demanded The Age/Sydney Morning Herald Sharma said Iranian state TV re- the agreement of at least three nations (Nov. 29) said “the brutal truth is she ports claiming Dr. Moore-Gilbert was – Iran, Thailand, and Israel. The last found herself a pawn caught in a high- an Israeli spy should be taken with a because it would have had to have been stakes diplomatic game between Iran “grain of salt.” alerted to the fact that the men who and the Western world…her release… MacDonald then himself demon- once tried to murder its diplomats were makes travel to Iran for any Austra- strated the baselessness of his own about to be released.” He also, rightly, lian…dangerous…and potentially question by noting media reports that referred to Iran as a “rogue state”. unshackle[s] terrorists who would have Warner was previously based in Iran otherwise stayed behind bars.” and had contacts there, which helped The Herald Sun (Nov. 27) editori- facilitate her release. TITLE FIGHT alised that Iran’s “tyrannical regime An Australian report (Nov. 20) on has long used…political prisoners as Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdellatif 35

AIR – January 2021 al-Zayani’s historic visit to Jerusalem “unwise…to give up the leverage of to the global nuclear weapons control was given the strident title, “Make the Trump-imposed oil sanctions [on regime, the Treaty on the Non-Prolif- peace, Bahrain tells Israel.” Iran] just to resume the nuclear deal eration of Nuclear Weapons.” The AFP-sourced article was more where it left off. We should use that Earlier, AIJAC’s Ahron Shapiro

NOTED AND QUOTEDNOTED AND nuanced, stating that al-Zayani had leverage to also get Iran to curb its told SBS Radio’s “Shalom Australia” actually said, “to achieve and con- exports of precision-guided missiles (Nov. 15) that Biden’s “record is over- solidate… peace, the Palestinian and to its allies in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen whelmingly pro-Israel. And the thing Israeli conflict needs to be resolved… and Iraq, where they threaten Israel is, if we were not [just] coming out of I therefore call for both parties to and several Arab states.” a Trump presidency, we would be all get around the negotiating table to Friedman said, “Biden’s team is talking about, ‘ooh, well, Joe Biden is achieve a viable two-state solution.” aware of that argument and does not such a good friend of Israel because think it is crazy – but for now they his history is just that.’” insist America’s overwhelming na- Shapiro said he doubted Biden TOM AND JOE tional interest is to get Iran’s nuclear would’ve signed off on the Iran In the Australian Financial Review program back under control and fully nuclear deal if he had been presi- (Dec. 4), New York Times columnist inspected. In their view, Iran’s devel- dent in 2015 and said Biden wants to Thomas Friedman said the incom- opment of a nuclear weapon poses a return to it as a “starting point” for ing Biden administration would be direct security threat to the US and negotiations.

statement…We all have views about the foreign policy issues to which the Senator adverted. I think there is support across the chamber for a two-state solution.” Foreign Minister Senator Marise Payne (Lib., NSW) – Dec. 3 – responding to Senator Rice: “[This motion] acknowledges Senator Eric Abetz (Lib., Tas.) – Dec. 3 – “I, and also on [Rabin’s] promotion of peace and coexistence at that time, but behalf of Senators Kitching, Molan, Wong, Rennick, McLachlan, we know for all time, given the nature of his leadership and his Keneally, Askew, O’Sullivan, Ryan, Antic, Carr, McGrath, Sheldon, legacy. The motion very clearly refers to an enduring two-state Dean Smith, Van, Hughes, Henderson, Ciccone, Fawcett, O’Neill, Griff, solution… mutually negotiated… That it is not possible [for the Roberts and Hanson, move: That the Senate— Greens] to extend with courtesy, diplomacy and generosity of (a) notes that: (i) 4 November 2020 marked 25 years since spirit an acknowledgement of this resolution…is profoundly Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated… (iv) disappointing.” Yitzhak Rabin promoted peace and co-existence …concluding Prime Minister Scott Morrison (Lib. Cook) – Dec. 9 – Chanu- the Oslo Peace Accords with the Palestinians in 1993, for which kah message: “A Chanukah menorah represents so much more he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and the Israel-Jordan than just a nine-branched candelabra – it speaks to the triumph Peace Treaty in 1994; and of light over darkness, the human capacity to endure, and the (b) affirms Australia’s ongoing commitment to Yitzhak intensity of life itself. Rabin’s vision of a peaceful and enduring two-state solution “The late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, the former Chief to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, mutually negotiated and Rabbi of the Commonwealth, was an inspiring and compassion- agreed by the Israelis and the Palestinians.” ate voice about the role of Judaism in our ever-changing world. Senator Janet Rice (Greens, Vic.) – Dec. 3 – speaking on the On the occasion of Chanukah some years ago, he wrote: ‘There Rabin condolence motion: “If this Senate truly affirms a vision always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and of a peaceful and enduring two-state solution, which we believe full of tears. We can curse the darkness or we can light a light, it should, then we should also be urging the Australian govern- and … a little light drives out much darkness.’” ment to call out the breaches of international law that present Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese (ALP, Grayndler) – a huge obstacle to achieving this vision. Australia needs to make Dec. 10 – Chanukah message: “May your homes and synagogues clear to the Israeli government that increasing settlement-build- be filled with the warm glow of your menorahs during this ing and the threat of annexation, not to mention the regular de- festival of light. …even amid all this upheaval, Chanukah will molition of Palestinian homes, are massive obstacles to achieving stand tall as a striking expression of your faith and devotion. peace. We urge the government to finally recognise a Palestinian … Like so many Jewish holidays, it is also a time to reflect on state, as so many other countries have done.” a time when Jewish people faced not only persecution, but an Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong (ALP, SA) – existential threat just for being Jewish. Dec. 3 – responding to Senator Rice: “I express my regret that “I send my deepest gratitude to the Australian Jewish com- the Greens felt, in relation to a motion commemorating such munity for the contribution you have made to the great Austra- 36 an honourable and decent man, the need to make a political lian story that is our multicultural society.”

AIR – January 2021 Obama administration which gave] closer, and Riyadh has quietly been away far too much to the ayatollahs. building relations with the Jewish WINKIN’ AT BLINKEN Mr Trump leaves a legacy of strength state for several years.” The Australian Financial Review (Nov. and solid achievement in the Middle

25) quoted former US Bush adminis- East that will be at risk if Mr Biden QUOTEDNOTED AND tration national security council official tries to cosy up to Tehran again.” BRIDGING THE GULF Michael Singh’s approval of Joe Biden’s Yet more media coverage was nomination of Antony Blinken for US given to reports of a secret meeting Secretary of State, and Jake Sullivan LABOR INTENSIVE in Saudi Arabia between Israeli PM – who set up a back channel to Iran Federal Labor Deputy Leader Binyamin Netanyahu, Saudi Crown under President Barack Obama – to be Richard Marles’ contribution to a Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) his national security adviser. new book called The Write Stuff: Voices and US Secretary of State Mike Singh said, ‘‘[they] are highly ex- of Unity on Labor’s Future, offering Pompeo. perienced and… non-ideological… future policy directions for the party, On ABC TV “The World” (Nov. They are pragmatic foreign policy was quoted in the Australian Financial 24), Middle East correspondent Eric practitioners with a history of work- Review (Dec. 4). Tlozek suggested Netanyahu leaked ing across the aisle.’’ Marles warned that ‘‘Australia has the news “for domestic politics” just as The LA Times-sourced report said dropped out of the top 20 most in- his “political rivals” launched an inves- Blinken “has acknowledged that some novative countries in the OECD” and tigation into alleged corruption. Trump-era steps will be difficult to said Australia should model itself on Tlozek said it is not politically pru- reverse” and, “Biden does not plan to “Israel, a country that commercialises dent for Saudi leaders to admit the two return the US embassy in Jerusalem research well and consequently has countries have cooperated for “at least to Tel Aviv…but…will work to bring a more complex economy that is 10 years” because the kingdom is seen the Palestinians back into negotiations expected to grow at well above our as a “leader in the Muslim world”. after they were sidelined by Trump.” economy over the next six years.” He also noted that MBS is “not as The Palestinians were not “side- tied” to Saudi Arabia’s formal policy lined”. Their leaders decided to boy- of “no normalisation with Israel cott talks with the Trump Administra- TURKI RUFFLES FEATHERS before a Palestinian state is created… tion after the US demanded that they The Australian and the Herald Sun the Crown Prince is looking to move stop inciting violence and financially (Dec. 8) picked up on an anti-Israel forward on this issue, but the older rewarding terror. diatribe from Prince Turki al-Faisal, a heads within the Saudi government high-profile former intelligence chief are being more cautious.” of Saudi Arabia – a country some have Citing Trump’s election loss TWICE AS NICE suggested might be on the verge of and the ongoing hostility in the US The Australian (Nov. 25) also normalising relations with Israel. Congress over the killing of Jamal endorsed Blinken and Sullivan as At a conference in Bahrain that Khashoggi, Tlozek said MBS “needs “committed centrists [who] were on included Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Israel and… the links and influence the more hawkish side of Obama-era Ashkenazi participating via video link, that Israel has in Washington, and with policy debates. Mr Blinken, whose Turki accused Israel of apartheid, an incoming Democrat administra- stepfather, a Holocaust survivor, was putting Palestinians in concentration tion. That’s probably why the meeting brought up in Melbourne, is a strong camps, and being a Western coloniser, occurred at this time.” supporter of Israel and favoured the and disparaged the recent peace deals SBS reporter Rena Sarumpaet’s 2003 Iraq war and US intervention in with the UAE and Bahrain as painkill- story for SBS TV “World News” (Nov. Libya. Mr Sullivan supported sending ers for a gaping wound. 24) on the alleged meeting para- US missiles to Ukraine, a policy Barack The report noted that Ashkenazi phrased academic Amin Saikal, saying Obama opposed. Together with the rejected Turki’s claims, saying, “the he “predicts… eventual normalisa- expected appointment of the vastly ex- Abraham Accords do not come at the tion but not… before President-elect perienced Michele Flournoy as defence expense of the Palestinians” and called Biden’s stance on the Middle East secretary, they are expected to form a on Palestinians to return to peace becomes clear.” team that should stand up to adversar- talks that were frozen in 2014. ies better than Mr Obama did.” The AFP report concluded that The newspaper warned against “despite Prince Turki’s blunt rhetoric, MACK TALKS SMACK returning “the US to the Iran nuclear mutual concern over Iran has gradu- On ABC Radio National “Breakfast” deal… in the form negotiated by [the ally brought Israel and Gulf nations (Dec. 1), David Mack, a former US 37

AIR – January 2021 ambassador to the UAE, implied the subsequently approved the bill. ian supplies and essential equipment Trump Administration’s special envoy It also explained that the 2015 into the Gaza Strip.” Jared Kushner wants reconciliation nuclear “deal caps the fissile purity to between Saudi Arabia and Qatar to which Iran can refine uranium at 3.67

NOTED AND QUOTEDNOTED AND further his own business interests and per cent… Iran breached the 3.67 per GIVE IT A REST because he failed to solve the Palestin- cent cap in July 2019 and the enrich- Israel issuing tenders to build 1200 ian-Israeli conflict. ment level has remained steady at up new housing units in Givat Hamatos, Mack said that “the young Jared to 4.5 per cent since then.” a neighbourhood in the southern part Kushner wants to show that even of Jerusalem on land captured in the though he failed to achieve the deal of 1967 war, was red meat for the ABC. the century with a final peace agree- WHO SAYS ISRAEL’S NOT A brief on ABC TV “7PM News” ment between Israel and the Arab TO BLAME? (Vic) (Nov. 16) said, “Opponents say the states, that he has done some things. On ABC Radio National “Breakfast” project will sever [east Jerusalem] from Normalisation between Israel and the (Nov. 24), Gerald Rockenschaub, Bethlehem, damaging prospects for a UAE and Bahrain and Sudan. All of head of the World Health Organisa- Palestinian state. They’ve also accused Is- whom had strong interests of their tion’s Office for the occupied Pal- rael of trying to sneak the development own to do it. And it wasn’t really estinian Territory, refused to blame in before the new Biden administration peace. These weren’t countries that Israel for hampering Gaza’s ability to takes over in the United States.” were at peace [sic]. So people are say- deal with COVID-19. Later that night, ABC TV’s “The ing what has he really accomplished? Despite Rockenschaub attributing World” said, “Israel was pushing ahead So he’s turning his attention to this.” rising infections to the social behav- with a controversial plan to build a iour of Gazans, host Fran Kelly asked, new Jewish settlement on the edge of “the Hamas leadership are calling on occupied east Jerusalem.” MODERATELY INCORRECT the international community to pro- Givat Hamatos is not a new settle- An SBS TV “World News’” (Dec. 2) vide Gaza with the support it needs. ment, rather a 30-year-old neigh- report on the Iranian Parliament vot- But Gaza has been under blockade bourhood of Jerusalem surrounded ing to halt unrestricted access by the since 2007. Israel and Egypt seal- by other Jewish and Arab neighbour- International Atomic Energy Agency ing the borders around the territory. hoods of the city. to the country’s nuclear sites and How is that impacting on the response Neither report included any bal- increase uranium enrichment levels to the pandemic? Particularly the abil- ance from Israeli spokespeople. from 4.5% to 20% incorrectly gave a ity to get ventilators in or PPE in, or Three days later, ABC Middle East misleading impression of moderation testing kits in?” correspondent Eric Tlozek’s report within the regime. Rockenschaub answered that “it’s ran on both ABC programs. SBS reporter Amelia Dunn noted not necessarily that getting the stuff “The World” host Bev O’Connor’s that the parliamentarians chanted in is the major obstacle,” but getting introduction claimed the buildings death to America and Israel and that “the necessary quantities due to global “would block access between Bethle- if implemented, the bill would be “a shortages… and, to the logistics hem and east Jerusalem.” direct violation of the 2015 nuclear around this, is a constant challenge.” Tlozek claimed the “development deal to which they are still a part.” Kelly asked if the logistical chal- would separate Palestinian towns in Dunn added that “the conserva- lenges “include the blockade? I know the West Bank from suburbs in east tive dominated parliament does not that there is constant mediation go- Jerusalem which Palestinians want as have the final say. Iran’s nuclear policy ing on with Israel to allow some of their capital for a future state.” is dictated by the Supreme National the supplies in. What’s the situation In fact, anyone who looks at a map Security Council, a body much more there?” can see that Givat Hamatos cannot invested in keeping international Rockenschaub explained that block access to Jerusalem because it diplomacy alive.” Dunn’s report WHO “have actually relatively good actually nestles alongside the rather included Iranian Foreign Ministry collaboration with the Israeli authori- large Palestinian neighbourhood of spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying, ties and when it comes to life saving Beit Safafa which itself is positioned “the Government has said the bill is supplies and the essential equipment, directly across from Bethlehem with neither necessary, nor useful.” we don’t face major obstacles. Some- no obstacle between the two areas. But as a Reuters story on the ABC times there are bureaucratic obstacles Moreover, Israeli media reported website noted (Dec. 3), the Guardian to overcome but usually we see quite that hundreds of the proposed new Council, which has greater authority good collaboration with the Israeli au- housing units are actually slated for 38 than the National Security Council, thorities to be able to get humanitar- Arab residents of Beit Safafa.

AIR – January 2021 Allon Lee MEDIA MICROSCOPE DEATH OF A “SCIENTIST” when he claims Iran is building a bomb, despite a lack of The assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist Mohsen clear evidence. He has swallowed the simplistic right- Fakhrizadeh provoked a plethora of questions over what wing narrative of Iran as evil, existential threat… If the operation was intended to achieve. Iran retaliates for the assassination, it could plunge the SBS reporter Ben Lewis’ informative report on SBS TV Middle East into violent chaos and wreck Biden’s hopes “World News” (Nov. 28) included Iran’s Defence Minister of a new start.” Amir Hatami praising Fakhrizadeh’s “big accomplishments On the ABC podcast “The Signal” (Dec. 4), Iranian- in the field of defence”. Lewis American journalist Negar reported that Iran claims its “Reporter Catalina Flores talked of the Mortazavi said the goal of the nuclear program is peaceful threat to Israel from Iran, showing on a killing was to make diplo- but Western intelligence agen- regional map that Iran ‘has forces at its macy harder for Biden and to cies believe Fakhrizadeh was in disposal surrounding Israel, including “provoke Iran into a violent or lethal retaliation... and then charge of a “covert” weapons troops and proxies in neighbouring Syria program. CNN correspondent pull them into a wider conflict Jomana Karadsheh told SBS and Hezbollah in Lebanon.’” or provide a pretext for mili- newsreader Anton Enus the tary engagement between Iran killing is extremely embarrassing for Iran, given he was and the Trump Administration.” one of the country’s best guarded individuals. On ABC Radio National “Breakfast” (Nov. 30), American The next day on SBS TV “World News”, reporter academic and regime sympathiser Trita Parsi predicted Catalina Flores talked of the threat to Israel from Iran, Iran’s nuclear program would be “set… back [only] a cou- showing on a regional map that Iran “has forces at its dis- ple of months… in the past… these assassinations have posal surrounding Israel, including troops and proxies in tended to take place… when a breakthrough in diplomacy neighbouring Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon.” was likely to happen.” The Australian (Nov. 30) said, “Fakhrizadeh was work- Later that day, on ABC Radio “World Today”, NY Times ing secretly at building Tehran’s nuclear weapons. That security correspondent David Sanger said, “it’s been should convince Mr Biden of the need to keep the pres- interesting over the past four years, for all the people sure on Tehran…Mr Biden must insist that unless Tehran who thought that Donald Trump would be trigger happy. comes clean about its nuclear program there will be no The one thing he’s been reluctant to do has been get the talks.” United States more deeply involved in conflicts in the Similarly, AIJAC’s Jamie Hyams in the Daily Telegraph Middle East.” (Dec. 3) wrote, “Fakhrizadeh…was also a Brigadier-Gen- On “Breakfast” the next day, former US Ambassador to eral in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). the UAE David Mack said he concurred with UAE Foreign The IRGC is not only the main instrument of hard line Minister al-Nahyan’s description of the killing as “hei- control and repression within Iran, but also organises and nous”, and believed “people in Washington are finally get- funds various proxy terror groups and militias across the ting the message that this kind of brass knuckles approach Middle East, and even further afield. The IRGC also con- to relations with Iran… does not really work.” trols Iran’s nuclear weapons program, making Fakhrizadeh Meanwhile, on ABC Radio National “Breakfast” (Dec. a senior officer in a terrorist military organisation leading 12), Israeli journalist Barak Ravid said he doubted Netan- an illegal nuclear weapons program.” yahu would order a “military strike against Iran… [he] had The News Corp papers (Nov. 30) quoted former several chances in the last decade... The Israeli military Obama counter-terrorism adviser John Brennan’s con- was prepared to do it, and Netanyahu at the last minute demnation of the killing as a “criminal act and highly decided not to. So I don’t think that there’s a real risk reckless” which “risks lethal retaliation and a new round of right now.” regional conflict.” The Obama administration faced similar Ravid also said Biden’s team is telling Netanyahu, accusations for killing al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in “don’t fight us on going back to the first deal. Work with Pakistan, which Brennan coordinated. us on forming a new deal… that would be for another The Guardian Australia (Nov. 30), denounced the decade that will also deal with missiles, that would also killing, saying, “Trump evidently believes Netanyahu deal with regional things.” 39

AIR – January 2021 NAME OF SECTION Jeremy Jones

NUMBED BY NUMBERS synagogues, threatening telephone calls and abuse shouted We have a proud history in Australia of nominating or at people walking to and from houses of worship. electing Jewish Australians as Governors General, military The annual totals of incidents have fluctuated greatly, leaders, senior members of Parliament and in many other but over 30 years there have been almost 12,000 reports positions which, for much of history and in many places, received by the ECAJ, including more than 750 which have were not available to the best candidates if those candidates involved physical assault or property vandalism, and more happened to be Jewish. than 2,000 involving face-to-face harassment. That said, there have always been antisemitic elements In the most recent report, much public commentary in Australia. revolved around the facts that the 331 reports received in These include individuals or organisa- that reporting period were fewer than the tions with broad racist agendas which 368 the year before, and the total was 14% included Jews among the nominated below the average of the previous 30 years. undesirables, and some others which direct One of the problems in compiling these their animosity specifically towards Jews, statistics is the way abusive, threatening drawing on a historiography of hatred from and intimidatory emails have been re- essentially European Christian sources. Statistics show that no two days pass ported and recorded, as this seems depen- In recent times, we have seen anti- without a Jewish person in Australia dent on people’s filters as much as on the semitism imported from countries and being targeted for antisemitic harass- actual activity in this area. ment or abuse cultures spreading well beyond Europe If email reports are treated separately, including, but not limited to, those whose cultural well- we see that the 2020 figure was actually 11% higher than springs are Arab or Muslim. the previous 30-year average – which might be a more It is never easy to measure the amount of anti-Jewish realistic representation of overall activity. activity or the extent of adherence to antisemitic beliefs. The fact that there were any incidents at all should have The peak organisation of the Australian Jewish commu- been a matter of serious concern and a clarion call to im- nity, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), has mediate action. applied a uniform analysis of data collected on antisemitism There is no objective way the lower figure can be seen for over 30 years, compiling and issuing comprehensive an- as a sign of something happening which is right – just that nual assessments. I was their author for more than 20 years, slightly less wrong seemed to have been reported. with the most recent reports compiled by Julie Nathan. When the figure is divided into attacks as against We both have attempted to document a phenomenon threats, the total of attacks, 188, was a worrying 40% that goes well beyond physical incidents, with consider- above the average of the previous 30 years. ation also of antisemitism in public discourse, the activities Face-to-face harassment reports were 91% above the of organisations which are specifically antisemitic or in- previous 30-year average and hate mail incidents, although clude antisemitism in their activities, and analyses of broad below average, were at the highest level since 2009. ideological trends. There is an ongoing discussion and debate on the level When the first Annual Report was issued in 1990, there of physical antisemitic activity, as against rhetoric and was general shock across the community to learn that Jew- belief, present in Australian society. But we should never ish Australians reported they had been victims of assault, forget that each and every incident is a stain on our society harassment, intimidation or vandalism at a rate of more nor that, in a “below average” year, no two days pass with- than ten times per month. out a Jewish person being targeted and having their quality Ten years later, this figure of life diminished simply for being Jewish. had risen to close to one report This is completely unacceptable and something which every day – of incidents ranging should always be high on the agenda of our legislators and from physical assault, arson of educators.

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