Editing AIJAC (section)

===Journalists===
AIJAC has received criticism for allegedly serving as a pro-Israel lobby group in Australian politics and the media. Left-wing Australian Jewish journalist [[Antony Loewenstein]] has criticised AIJAC for promoting a binary view that Israel is committed to seeking peace and that the Palestinians have spurned opportunities for peace, claiming that AIJAC dislikes or distrusts Arabs and Palestinians.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=169-170}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} Loewenstein has also criticised AIJAC for lobbying the two Australian public broadcasters, the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] (ABC) and SBS to conform to a pro-Israel, pro-American, and anti-Arab agenda under the pretext of ensuring balance. Loewenstein has alleged that AIJAC has used the media complaints process to harass ABC and SBS reporters and senior management over their coverage of the [[Gulf War|First Gulf War]], the [[Battle of Jenin (2002)|Battle of Jenin]], and the [[Israel-Palestine conflict]]. According to Loewenstein, AIJAC has also blocked the airing of documentaries and films sympathetic to the Palestinians such as [[Hany Abu-Assad]]'s ''Ford Transit'', [[Yoav Shamir]]'s ''[[Checkpoint (2003 film)|Checkpoint]]'', and Simone Bitton's ''The Wall''. Loewenstein blamed AIJAC's lobbying campaigns for demoralising journalists, contributing to staff departures, and low morale. He has likened AIJAC's media monitoring activities to that of other pro-Israel watchdogs including [[HonestReporting]] and the [[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America]].{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=187-203, 221-222}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} In response, AIJAC analyst Ted Larkin criticised Loewenstein's book ''My Israel Question'' for alleged factual inaccuracies and glossing over the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]'s support for [[Saddam Hussein]] and Palestinian [[suicide bombing]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lapkin |first1=Ted |title=Antony Loewenstein's Reign of Error |url=https://aijac.org.au/op-ed/antony-loewenstein-s-reign-of-error/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=22 August 2019 |date=7 August 2006}}</ref>

Similarly, senior [[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] and former ''[[The Australian]]'' journalist [[John Lyons (journalist)|John Lyons]] has criticised AIJAC for favouring pro-Israel journalists while attacking journalists whose reports and stories they did not agree with. Lyons has alleged that critical journalists have received abuse on social media.{{Sfn|Lyons|2017|pp=39-40}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} Lyons cites an attempt by AIJAC to discredit a story that he had published in the ''Weekend Australian'' highlighting the plight of a Palestinian travel agent named Nasser Jaber who had been evicted from their home in Jerusalem. According to Lyons, AIJAC was supported in this episode by the Israeli Embassy in Canberra and the ''[[Australian Jewish News]]''.{{Sfn|Lyons|2017|pp=91-203}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} Lyons has also claimed that AIJAC tried to sabotage his career as ''The Australian''{{'s}} Jerusalem correspondent by trying to discredit his news reports. He has also criticised AIJAC for pushing Australian foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction.{{sfn|Lyons|2017|pp=250-263}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} In response, ''AIR'' magazine editor Tzvi Fleischer has defended AIJAC's criticisms of Lyons' media reports, alleging that he had an anti-Israel bias. AIJAC senior policy analyst Ahron Shapiro also criticised Lyons' memoir ''Balcony Over Jerusalem'' for promoting what he regarded as a distorted, negative image of Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ahron |title=How to Understand John Lyons' "memoir" Balcony Over Jerusalem |url=https://aijac.org.au/fresh-air/how-to-understand-john-lyons-memoir-balcony-over/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=22 August 2019 |date=17 November 2017}}</ref>