IN one of the most unusual diplomatic functions that Israel has seen, 350 people packed into a Jaffa courtyard to toast Australia-Israel “mateship”.
There were hardly any speeches and nobody uttered the word “bilateral” during the proceedings of the pre-Rosh Hashanah event. It was out with the formalities and in with ambassadorial tomfoolery, sardonic stand up, and didgeridoo practice.
There was no preaching about the state of Canberra-Jerusalem ties, and the most in-depth delving into the Australian and Israeli characters was a thesis that Australians are people who seem to be on valium, while Israelis are people who seem to be on speed. This came from stand-up comedian Jeremie Bracka, an Australian-Israeli.
Read the article by Nathan Jeffay in the Australian Jewish News.