The following, slightly abridged, statement was released by the Australian-based Jews against the Occupation on October 29.
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The jingoistic festivities to mark the centenaries of the Battle of Beersheba (in present day Israel, October 31, 1917) and the Balfour Declaration (November 2, 1917) are being accompanied by an orgy of myth-making as well as the expenditure of significant Australian taxpayer dollars (reportedly more than $600 million).
Jews against the Occupation condemns the attendance at these celebrations by the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten.
They mendaciously promote the story that Australia, through its mythological role in the battle with the Australian Light Horse Brigade, led to the foundation of the State of Israel.
This is supposedly a cause for great celebration and pride in the brotherhood of war leading to the “special” Australia/Israel relationship.
In fact, the charge of the Australian Light Horse Brigade was just one of many elements in the British conquest of Palestine.
Read the article from Green Left Weekly.