Australian Jewish Association is a Not-for-profit Community Organisation
Website: jewishassociation.org.au Postal: PO Box 333 St Leonards NSW 2065
Telephone: 1300 AU JEWS (1300 285397) Email: office@jewishassociation.org.au
AJA condemns UN resolution and criticises Australia’s vote to abstain – 22 December 2017
UN GA calls on US to rescind recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Australia abstains!
A majority of United Nations members rebuked the United States yesterday, denouncing its decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ignoring President Trump’s threats to retaliate by cutting aid to countries voting against it.
The United Nations General Assembly voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions (including Australia), for a resolution demanding that the United States rescind its 6 December declaration on Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and intent to relocate the US embassy.
The UN has again proven itself to be a “house of darkness and lies”. No amount of resolutions of lies can delete the 3000-year Jewish history in Jerusalem which was established as the eternal capital of the Jewish nation, a status reaffirmed in 1948 with the establishment of the modern State of Israel. Jerusalem was established in biblical times as the capital for the Jewish nation with Kings David and Solomon ruling from there. It has NEVER been the capital of an Arab/Muslim entity.
As recently as 30 November 2017, Australia abstained on an UN resolution which disavowed Israeli ties to Jerusalem. AJA along with some Christian groups and media commentators voiced objections to this abstention, which defies historical fact and current reality.
The Australian Jewish Association must again express profound disappointment that Australia meekly abstained for the second time in a month instead of clearly voting against such a shameful resolution. This time it is even worse. Australia once again failed to make a principled stand and did not clearly oppose a resolution which attacks two of its key allies – Israel and the United States.
AJA recognises the Australian government’s obvious good friendship with Israel and the US. But countries should be able to rely on the support of good friends on such matters of principle. A vote to abstain when good friends are being falsely lambasted is inadequately supportive and seems cowardly.
Why did Australia do this? Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon Julie Bishop, certainly has some explaining to do!
For further information: Alan Freedman 0412952229, or Dr David Adler, AJA President, 0415256530