Alex Dafner:Australia would not establish a diplomatic representation in Jerusalem 17.9.2017

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the Zionist Federation of Australia Conference in Canberra that Australia would not establish a diplomatic representation in Jerusalem nor move its embassy there from Tel-Aviv as this would be a potentially harmful escalation of tensions and a unilateral action.Visiting Member of the Israeli Knesset-Parliament Merav Michaeli told the Zionist Federation of Australia Conference that a two state solution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict is possible if there was the political will on both sides and that the only time this was the case was at the time of Itzhak Rabin and the Oslo Accords.The debate over the postal plebiscite on equal marriage rights in Australia has not bypassed the Jewish community, with two members of the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of Victoria, which urged a NO vote, expressing their regret that such a statement was issued and their dissent and apology for the pain caused by the statement.The launch of a new conservative, right wing group, the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) finally took place in the South Caulfield Synagogue in Melbourne, after the Jewish Community Centre and the Mizrachi Centre cancelled their bookings, because of the divisive theme of the AJAs launch: The Threat of Islam to Jews, which was later changed to Islam and the Jews-Lessons for Australia.The Jewish Care organisation in Sydney launched the first ever Jewish Suicide Prevention Strategy project in Australia, aimed at providing mental health first aid and suicide prevention training to organizations and general community members, as well as facilitating events and presentations and growing a network to champion the message of suicide prevention and awareness.

alex Dafner SBS Source: SBS