Editing AIJAC

{{Short description|Australian Jewish advocacy group}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council
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| abbreviation = AIJAC
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| predecessor = *Australia-Israel Publications{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=198-199}}
*Australian Institute of Jewish Affairs{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=198-199}}
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| formation = 1997{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=198-199}}
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| purpose = *Represent the interests of the Australian Jewish community to government, media, and other community organisations.<ref name="About AIJAC">{{cite web |title=About AIJAC |url=https://aijac.org.au/about-aijac/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>
*Combat anti-Israel bias in the media and public circles<ref name="About AIJAC" />
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| headquarters = [[Melbourne]]<ref name="Our Team">{{cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://aijac.org.au/our-team/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>
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| leader_title = National Chairman<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_name = [[Mark Leibler]], AC<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_title2 = NSW Chairman<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_name2 = Paul Rubenstein<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_title3 = Executive Director<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_name3 = Colin Rubenstein, AM<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_title4 = Director of International & Community Affairs<ref name="Our Team" />
| leader_name4 = [[Jeremy Jones (activist)|Jeremy Jones]], AM<ref name="Our Team" />
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The '''Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council''' ('''AIJAC''',<ref>{{cite web |title=AIJAC official website |url=https://aijac.org.au/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|ˈ|eɪ|d|ʒ|æ|k}}), represents the interests{{Vague|date={{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}}} of the Australian Jewish community to government, politicians, media and other community groups and organisations through research, commentary and analysis. The organisation is directed by Colin Rubenstein, who was previously a political science lecturer at [[Monash University]]. AIJAC has office locations in [[Melbourne]] and [[Sydney]].<ref name="Our Team" /><ref name="About AIJAC" />{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=198-200}} AIJAC is formally associated with the [[American Jewish Committee]].<ref name="About AIJAC" />

==History==
===Origins===
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) was founded in 1997 through the merger of two earlier Jewish organisations: '''Australia-Israel Publications''' (AIP) and the '''Australian Institute of Jewish Affairs''' (AIJA). The Melbourne-based Australia-Israel Publications had been founded in 1974 by Robert ("Bob") Zablud and Isador Magid to present pro-Israel perspectives in the media and political debate through its monthly journal, the ''Australia-Israel Review''.{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=198}} AIP had been established by the [[Zionist Federation of Australia]] (ZFA) and the [[Executive Council of Australian Jewry]], the two peak representative bodies of the [[Australian Jews|Australian Jewish]] community, to educate the Australian public about the Middle East in response to growing public criticism of [[Israel]].{{sfn|Rutland|2004|p=40}} Under the leadership of Magid and later [[Mark Leibler]], AIP became the best resourced Australian Jewish organisation. During the 1980s, the organisation expanded with the establishment of full-time southern and northern directors in 1982 and of a director of public affairs in 1987.{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=198}}

The second organisation, AIJA, had been founded in 1984 by the Melbourne businessmen [[Isi Leibler]], Richard Pratt, and Mark Besen. AIJA's purpose was to conduct and encourage research into issues of concern for the Australian Jewish community.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=198-199}}{{sfn|Markus|2004|p=120}} AIJA's activities have also included organising several key conferences relating to antisemitism, Jewish education and the National Outlook Conferences, as well as producing research studies on various topics.{{sfn|Rutland|2004|pp=40-41}} In 1984, AIJA organised an international conference on antisemitism that hosted several prominent guests including Australian [[Chief Rabbi]] Sir [[Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits|Immanuel Jakobovits]], [[Abraham Foxman]] of the [[Anti-Defamation League]], Special Counsel to the [[United States Ambassador to the United Nations]] Allan Gerson, Israeli academics [[Itamar Rabinovich]] and [[R.J. Zwi Werblowsky]], and [[B'nai B'rith]] lobbyist [[William Korey]].{{sfn|Markus|2004|p=120}} During its history, AIJA attracted more funding from major businessmen and philanthropists than ECAJ.{{sfn|Rutland|2004|pp=40-41}}

After Isi Leibler settled in Israel in 1995, he came to believe that the Jewish community needed a more effective advocacy group. Following negotiations, AIP and AIJA merged in 1997 to form AIJAC, which became the main Jewish public advocacy group in Australia.{{sfn|Rutland|2004|p=41}}

===1990s===
In May 1997, AIJAC and the [[American Jewish Committee]] (AJC) established institutional ties to collaborate on key Jewish communal and international policy issues in the Asia-Pacific region.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=202-203}}<ref name="About AIJAC" /> In 1999, AIJAC and the AJC produced a detailed research study called ''Islam in Asia: Changing Political Realities'', which examined the role of [[Islam]] in [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], the [[Mindanao|southern Philippines]], and [[southern Thailand]]. AIJAC and AJC regarded the growth of [[Islamic extremism]] in Asia as a concern for Australian Jews, the wider Australian population, and Israel and have advocated a "peaceful, stable, democratic, and prosperous Southeast Asia".{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=208}}

In 1998, AIJAC controversially published the far right [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]] party's secret membership list as part of its campaign against far right groups.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=204}} During the [[1998 Queensland state election]], AIJAC national chairman Mark Leibler and national policy chairman Colin Rubenstein joined forces with other Australian Jewish organisations including ECAJ, the [[B'nai B'rith|B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission]], and the Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies in lobbying [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Howard]] into disavowing any preference deals with One Nation.{{sfn|Markus|2004|pp=122}}

===2000s===
In January 2000, AIJAC strongly campaigned against controversial military historian and [[Holocaust denial|Holocaust denier]] [[David Irving]]'s tour of Australia. AIJAC's National Chairman Mark Leibler also criticised the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' newspaper for commissioning a poll asking people whether they "agreed with historian David Irving's views on the [[Holocaust]]"; describing it as offensive to Melbourne's Holocaust survivors and arguing that newspaper's actions legitimised the claims of Holocaust deniers.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=209-210}}

In May 2000, AIJAC condemned the Australian Government's decision to vote in favour of two [[World Bank]] loans to [[Iran]] worth US$232 million; with AIJAC's Executive Director Rubenstein claiming that the loans legitimised the Iranian "regime's" religious discrimination, terrorism, and human rights violation. AIJAC's opposition to the Iranian loans was also influenced by the Iranian government's trial and conviction of ten [[Persian Jews|Iranian Jews]] on fabricated charges of spying for the US and Israel. The Iranian loans were also opposed by the United States, Canadian, and French governments. Historically, AIJAC has urged the Australian Government to exert pressure and limit relations with Iran due to its opposition to the [[Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran|current regime]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=210}}

In December 2000, AIJAC supported the [[Government of Victoria|Victorian Government]]'s [[Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001|Racial and Religious Tolerance Act]]; arguing that free speech had to be balanced with protection from harassment, vilification, incitement to violence, and [[hate speech]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=209}} In 2001, AIJAC and most of the Australian Jewish community praised [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Howard]] for condemning the [[World Conference against Racism 2001]] in [[Durban]] in September 2001 and praised Australian efforts to moderate the conference's proceedings.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|p=166}}

Following the [[September 11 attacks]], AIJAC supported the United States-led coalition's [[War on Terror]] and military interventions in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]] and [[Iraq War|Iraq]]. AIJAC also campaigned in favour of Australian involvement in the Iraq War.{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=208}}{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|p=163}}  AIJAC and its institutional partner, the American Jewish Committee, were also concerned by the growth of Islamic extremism in Southeast Asia. Following the [[2002 Bali bombings]], AIJAC exposed the Australian links of [[Ramzi Yousef]], one of the instigators of the [[1993 World Trade Center bombing]] and established close links with moderate Southeast Asian leaders such as [[President of Indonesia|Indonesian President]] and [[Nahdatul Ulama]] leader [[Abdurrahman Wahid]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=208-209}}

In August 2003, AIJAC joined forces with several other Australian Jewish organisations and media including ''[[Australian Jewish News]]'', the [[New South Wales Jewish Board of Deputies]] (NSWJBD), the [[Executive Council of Australian Jewry]] (ECAJ), and the [[Zionist Federation of Australia]] in opposing the Sydney Peace Foundation's decision to award Palestinian intellectual and [[Palestinian Liberation Organization|PLO]] official Dr. [[Hanan Ashrawi]] the 2003 [[Sydney Peace Prize]]. AIJAC published a fact sheet criticising Ashrawi for her alleged anti-Israel rhetoric and extremist views. Despite intense lobbying from Jewish groups and media, the Sydney Peace Foundation refused to rescind Ashrawi's prize. On 6 November 2003, [[Premier of New South Wales|New South Wales Premier]] [[Bob Carr]] awarded Ashrawi the 2003 Sydney Peace Prize during a public ceremony at the [[New South Wales Parliament]].{{sfn|Levey|Mendes|2004|pp=215-230}}{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=3-22}} [[Baruch Kimmerling]], a sociologist from the [[Hebrew University]], wrote, "As an Israeli, as a Jew and as an academic I am deeply sorry and ashamed that members of the [[Australian Jewish]] community are acting against this rightful nomination."<ref name=margo>{{cite news
 |authorlink1=Margo Kingston |first1=Margo |last1=Kingston
 |authorlink2=Stuart Rees |first2=Stuart |last2=Rees
 |access-date=27 September 2011 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/16/1087244961835.html
 |title=Revisiting the Hanan Ashrawi affair
 |date=16 June 2004
|work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]
 |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]]}}</ref>

In 2005, AIJAC praised [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]]'s [[Israeli disengagement from Gaza|decision to withdraw]] from the [[Gaza Strip]], claiming that it proved Israel's commitment to peace. AIJAC and most Australian Jewish groups supported the withdrawal from Gaza. AIJAC National Chairman Mark Leibler disagreed with the State Zionist Council of Victoria president Dr Danny Lamm and the State Zionist Council of New South Wales' president Brian Levitan's opposition to the disengagement from Gaza, stating that communal leaders should not express views that "are at odds with the views of the constituency". At the same time, Leibler defended the right to protest by elements of the Jewish community opposed to the Gaza disengagement. AIJAC analyst Ted Lapkin claimed that [[Hamas]]'s electoral success during the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]] reflected a long record of Palestinians "spurning opportunities for peace".{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=169, 171-73}}

===2010s===
In 2016, AIJAC accused then senator [[Nick Xenophon]] of being "highly and one-sidedly critical of Israel" during his time in the [[Australian Senate]]. The organisation also criticised the [[Australian Greens]] for trying to make Israel the "sole-aggressor" against Palestine.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dowling |first1=James |title=Federal election 2016: Greens and Xenophon 'anti-Israel', says lobby group |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/federal-election/federal-election-2016-greens-and-xenophon-antijew-says-lobby-group/news-story/82600a2408c3d266ab9f59b613996d42 |access-date=15 July 2019 |work=[[News.com.au]] |date=30 June 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, AIJAC lodged a complaint against the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] regarding an online article which claimed that [[Hamas]] was declared a terrorist organisation because of it activities against Israeli "occupation" of Palestine. The ABC complaints unit agreed with AIJAC that Hamas's status was not, according to the Australian Government, based on any occupation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Complaint Two: ABC |url=http://www.jwire.com.au/complaint-two-abc/ |access-date=15 July 2019 |publisher=J-Wire |date=9 August 2018}}</ref> Dr. Rubenstein said:
{{quotation|"The ABC news coverage of events in Gaza and Israel’s south on... July 15, was indeed problematic, setting out the Israeli attacks against Gaza without providing adequate context of the reasons for these strikes... However, we note that the reports... on that night’s ABC TV news and the following morning’s ‘AM’ program on ABC radio were a significant improvement... We hope that the latter two reports are indicative that future ABC reporting on Israel will endeavor to be professional and fair, as it has sometimes failed to be in the recent past."<ref>{{cite news |title=AIJAC sees an improvement in the ABC |url=http://www.jwire.com.au/aijac-sees-an-improvement-in-the-abc/ |access-date=15 July 2019 |publisher=J-Wire |date=17 June 2018}}</ref>}}

===2020s===
In October 2022, AIJAC joined [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] leader [[Peter Dutton]], the [[Zionist Federation of Australia]] and [[Executive Council of Australian Jewry]] (ECAJ) in criticising the [[Albanese government]]'s decision to reverse the [[Morrison government]]'s recognition of Jerusalem as the Australian Jewish community.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shanahan |first=Rodger |date=2023-08-09 |title=Australian politics and the Israeli–Palestinian issue |url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-politics-and-the-israeli-palestinian-issue/ |access-date=2023-12-25 |work=The Strategist |publisher=[[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] |language=en-AU |archive-date=2023-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225232715/https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-politics-and-the-israeli-palestinian-issue/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Knott |first=Matthew |date=2023-08-09 |title=Palestine leaps upon 'occupied' shift, urges full recognition of statehood |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/palestine-leaps-upon-occupied-shift-urges-full-recognition-of-statehood-20230809-p5dv6b.html |access-date=2023-12-25 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231225232713/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/palestine-leaps-upon-occupied-shift-urges-full-recognition-of-statehood-20230809-p5dv6b.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2022 Australian Jewish journalist [[Antony Loewenstein]] criticised AIJAC and the ECAJ for supporting Israel's military occupation of the Palestinians.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Loewenstein |first=Antony |date=11 November 2022 |title=Australian Jews are changing their views on Israel. And they need a new voice |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/australian-jews-are-changing-their-views-on-israel-and-they-need-a-new-voice-20221109-p5bwv1.html |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430172055/https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/australian-jews-are-changing-their-views-on-israel-and-they-need-a-new-voice-20221109-p5bwv1.html|archive-date=30 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Aims and activities==
As both a think tank and public affairs organisation, AIJAC's stated purpose is to represent the interests of [[Australian Jews]] to the Australian government, media, and other media organisations. While AIJAC's main focus is on combating perceived anti-Israel bias and misinformation in the media and Australian public, the organisation also has a domestic agenda that includes promoting multiculturalism, human rights and interfaith dialogue; combating extremism, fundamentalism, racism, and antisemitism; promoting [[Holocaust]] awareness; pursuing Nazi war criminals; and dealing with the security concerns of Australian Jewish communities and institutions. Besides its advocacy and lobbying activities, AIJAC has also produced regular commentary and analysis on Middle Eastern, Australian, and Asian developments.<ref name="About AIJAC" />{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=199-200}} Several of AIJAC's main activities have including a visitor program bringing international visitors to Australia and [[New Zealand]], the "Ramban Israel Fellowship" program, the "AIJAC Forum" for young professionals, their monthly ''Australia/Israel Review'' magazine, and the "Fresh Air" blog and "Updates" email bulletin on their website.<ref name="About AIJAC" />

===''Australia/Israel Review''===
AIJAC publishes a monthly magazine, ''Australia/Israel Review'' or AIR (formerly titled ''The Review''), featuring articles on issues of concern to the Australian Jewish community. ''AIR'' magazine was first established by AIJAC's predecessor, Australia-Israel Publications, in 1977 with the journalist Samp Lipski serving as its first editor. The magazine's mission was to promote the Israeli case to Australia's opinion makers. Copies of ''AIR'' magazine were distributed to members of both the [[Parliament of Australia|federal]] and [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories|state parliament]]s, leading clergymen, academics, and journalists. By the late 1980s, ''AIR'' magazine had a circulation of 3,600 and had become a national publication with the establishment of a branch office in Sydney.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=203-204}}{{sfn|Markus|2004|p=118}}

Although ''AIR'' magazine's mainly focused on Israel-Palestine, the magazine also devoted considerable resources to monitoring far right figures and elements during the 1980s and 1990s such as [[Pauline Hanson]]'s [[Pauline Hanson's One Nation|One Nation]], [[David Irving]], [[Louis Farrakhan]], and the [[LaRouche movement]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=203-204}}{{sfn|Markus|2004|p=118}} Key contributors have included [[Jeremy Jones (activist)|Jeremy Jones]] and David Greason, one of Australia's leading experts on the far right. In 1995, ''AIR'' and its parent organisation Australia-Israel Publications were merged into AIJAC.{{sfn|Markus|2004|p=118}}

Despite its pro-Israel editorial standpoint, ''AIR'' magazine has published interviews with Palestinian figures such as [[Hanan Ashrawi]], [[Yasser Arafat]], and [[Nabil Shaath]]. In addition, the magazine has interviewed leading Israeli figures such as [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], [[Moshe Arens]], and [[Shimon Peres]]. In addition to its pro-Israel advocacy, ''AIR'' magazine has also taken an interest in [[weapons of mass destruction]] particularly "rogue Middle East states" seeking to acquire nuclear weapons capability. By 2000, ''AIR'' magazine was devoting more coverage to Australian issues and local politics.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=203-204}}

Current and archived issues of the magazine are available on the magazine's website, and the organisation also distributes news and alerts to subscribers by email.<ref>{{cite web |title=Australia/Israel Review |url=https://aijac.org.au/category/australia-israel-review/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

{{Political POV|date=October 2024}}{{Disputed|date=October 2024}}

===Lobbying and relationship-building===
AIJAC has lobbied and cultivated relations with the two major Australian parties, the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]]s and [[Australian Labor Party]].{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|p=162}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}} AIJAC has invited politicians from both major parties on Ramban programs and dinner functions. In 2003, the Australian [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Foreign Minister]] [[Alexander Downer]], federal [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Opposition]] and Labor leader [[Simon Crean]], and Labor Foreign spokesperson [[Kevin Rudd]] attended an AIJAC dinner function hosting former [[Prime Minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Ehud Barak]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=200}} AIJAC also cultivated close relations with [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[John Howard]] with left-wing Australian journalist [[Antony Loewenstein]] crediting the organisation with influencing the [[Howard government]]'s pro-Israel foreign policy.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=163-167}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

AIJAC had also maintained a close relationship with Jewish Australian former Labor Member of Parliament [[Michael Danby]], a former AIJAC staffer who has articulated a pro-Israel standpoint on several occasions. Danby was involved in the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Israel and objected to [[American Jews|Jewish-American]] intellectual and dissident [[Noam Chomsky]]'s tour of Australia in 1995.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|pp=180-181}}{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=205-206}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

===Partnerships===
AIJAC works closely with several Australian and international Jewish organisations including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Zionist Federation of Australia, the various state Jewish community organisations, the [[Jewish National Fund]], the [[United Israel Appeal]], the [[World Union of Jewish Students]], and the [[American Jewish Committee]].{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=201}}<ref name="About AIJAC" /> Despite its cordial relations with mainstream Jewish groups, AIJAC disagrees with dissident Jewish peace groups like the [[Australian Jewish Democratic Society]], which is critical of Israel and has advocated on Palestinian rights.{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=202}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

In May 1997, AIJAC and the American Jewish Committee established institutional ties to collaborate on key Jewish communal and international policy issues including defending the rights of Jews and other minorities, promoting friendly relations between Jews and other ethnic and religious groups, advocating for Jewish concerns in Asia and the Pacific Rim, advancing Israeli public diplomacy,{{cn|date=October 2024}} combating [[anti-Semitism|antisemitism]] and [[Holocaust denial]], and fostering ties between Israel and the [[Jewish Diaspora]]. The two organisations also collaborate in the joint sponsorship of research, conferences, symposia, exchange programs, and fact-finding missions in the Asia-Pacific region.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=202-203}}<ref name="About AIJAC" />

===Pursuit of Nazi war criminals===
In line with its interest in combating [[anti-Semitism|antisemitism]] and promoting Holocaust awareness, AIJAC has campaigned for alleged Nazi war criminals in Australia to face justice either in Australia or overseas via deportation or extradition. AIJAC has also advocated that the Australian Government re-establish a specialised war crimes investigation unit to pursue both suspects from World War II and more recent conflicts, and to assist international efforts to secure war crime justice. During the mid-1990s, AIJAC helped located the alleged [[Latvians|Latvian]] war criminals [[Konrāds Kalējs]] and [[Karlis Ozols]], who were both living in Australia. In March 2000, AIJAC also lobbied for the Australian Government to investigate [[Lithuanians|Lithuanian]] Nazi war crimes suspect Antanas Gudelis following allegations against him aired on the [[Special Broadcasting Service]]'s ''Dateline'' program.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=210-11}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Antannas Gudelis |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/antannas-gudelis |access-date=21 July 2019 |publisher=[[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS News]] |date=29 March 2000}}</ref>

===Rambam Israel Fellowship Program===
In late 2003, AIJAC launched the Rambam Israel Fellowship Program to facilitate educational and fact-finding trips to Israel for selected journalists, politicians, political advisers, government officials, trade union officials, student leaders, and academics.<ref name="About AIJAC" />{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=200}}  Participation includes "air/ground transport, accommodation, meals and other associated costs".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ausgov.info/interests.php?reps=stirling+griff |title=10 Members & Senators updated the register of interests in the last 14 Days |access-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145437/https://ausgov.info/interests.php?reps=stirling+griff |archive-date=6 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> According to Australian Jewish journalist [[Antony Loewenstein]], the week-long Rambam program included meetings with prominent Israeli politicians such as [[Ehud Barak]] and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], a tour of the [[Israeli West Bank barrier]], and brief meetings with Palestinian leaders in Ramallah.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|p=221}}

The first Rambam participants were a group of young political leaders who undertook a week-long program of activities in July 2003. The second Rambam mission consisted of a five-member [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] parliamentary delegation who visited Israel in December 2003. The third Rambam mission in February 2004 was a bipartisan parliamentary delegation consisting of [[Australian Labor Party]] Senators [[Stephen Conroy]] ([[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]), [[Linda Kirk]] ([[South Australia]]), [[Ursula Stephens]] ([[New South Wales]]), and [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] Members of Parliament [[Steven Ciobo]], [[Sophie Panopoulos]], and [[Andrew Southcott]]. More recently, in 2018, Senators [[Stirling Griff]] ([[Centre Alliance]]) and [[Kristina Keneally]] (Labor) attended, along with other politicians, as well as journalists, including [[Sharri Markson]] and [[James Campbell (journalist)|James Campbell]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rambam journos report back |url=https://www.jewishnews.net.au/rambam-journos-report-back/51094 |access-date=15 July 2019 |publisher=[[The Australian Jewish News]] |date=21 December 2015}}</ref>

AIJAC Rambam journalist participants have included ''[[The Herald and Weekly Times]]'' editor in chief [[Peter Blunden]] and journalist John Ferguson, the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]''{{'s}} Ben Potter and Robert Bolton, ''[[The Age]]''{{'s}} chief editorial writer John Watson, ''[[The Courier-Mail]]''{{'s}} [[Dennis Atkins]], the [[Special Broadcasting Service]]'s Sally Watson, the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]''{{'s}} Louise Dodson, and [[Network Ten|Channel Ten]]'s John Hill.{{sfn|Loewenstein|2006|p=220}}

==Criticism==
===Palestinian Authority===
According to Reich, [[Palestinian Authority]] officials have expressed criticism of AIJAC's pro-Israel advocacy work and media management. The-then Head of the General Palestinian Delegation to Australia [[Ali Kazak]] alleged that AIJAC tried to prevent factual reporting  by the Australian media on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Kazak was particularly critical of an AIJAC report criticising the Australian public broadcaster [[Special Broadcasting Service]] (SBS), which he claimed tried to suppress what he referred to as "Israel's internationally condemned bloody occupation, violations and war crimes committed on a daily basis against the defenceless Palestinian people on the pretext that such coverage is pro-Palestinian".{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=201}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

===Arab Australians===
AIJAC has also clashed with local [[Arab Australians|Arab Australian]] community organisations and media. Executive Director Rubenstein criticised local Arab community groups for alleged hypocrisy in opposing the introduction of the [[Racial Vilification Act 1996|Racial Vilification Act]] but being the first to use it. He also alleged that local Arabic newspapers and programs promoted extremism.{{sfn|Reich|2004|pp=200-201}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

In November 1995, the Australian Arabic Council (ACC) lodged a complaint against AIJAC's predecessor organisation Australia-Israel Publications after a staff member named David Pryce-Jones remarked that it was an Arab habit to assassinate prime ministers in response to the [[Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin|assassination]] of Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] by Israeli ultranationalist [[Yigal Amir]]. In response, the ACC lodged official complaints against AIP and the ''[[Herald Sun]]'' with the [[Australian Press Council]] and the [[Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission]]. In December 1997, the AIP published a public apology in the ''Herald Sun''.{{sfn|Reich|2004|p=201}}{{full citation|date=October 2024}}{{better source|date=October 2024}}

===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>

===Politicians===
Former [[Premier of New South Wales]] and [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Australian Foreign Minister]] [[Bob Carr]] has criticised AIJAC and pro-Israel elements within the [[Gillard government]] for exerting an unhealthy influence on Australian foreign policy towards Israel and the Palestinian Territories in his 2014 memoir ''Diary of a Foreign Minister''; contending that it hurt Australia's relations with the Arab-Muslim world. Carr also clashed with Prime Minister [[Julia Gillard]] on Israel, at one point threatening to resign unless Gillard dropped Australia's opposition to Palestinian efforts to upgrade their [[United Nations]] membership to non-member observer status.{{sfn|Carr|2014|pp=186-187, 212-214, 230-240}}<ref name="ABC 10 Apr 2014">{{cite news |title=Former foreign minister Bob Carr says 'pro-Israel lobby' influenced government policy |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-09/bob-carr-lashes-out-at-melbourne-pro-israel-lobby/5379074|access-date=22 August 2019 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Swan |first1=Jonathan |title=Bob Carr's texts to Gillard reveal 'extraordinary' influence pro-Israel lobby had on former PM |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bob-carrs-texts-to-gillard-reveal--extraordinary-influence-proisrael-lobby-had-on-former-pm-20140410-36dys.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=10 April 2014}}</ref>

In response to Carr's criticisms, AIJAC National Chairman Mark Leibler defended the group's efforts to lobby Australian Prime Ministers and rejected Carr's claims of a powerful pro-Israel lobby as a "figment of his imagination".<ref name="ABC 10 Apr 2014" /> Leibler also rejected Carr's claims that AIJAC took an extreme right wing view of Israel and reiterated AIJAC's commitment to a [[two-state solution]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leibler |first1=Mark |title=Bob Carr's 'Israel lobby' claims inaccurate, bizarre |url=https://aijac.org.au/op-ed/bob-carr-s-israel-lobby-claims-inaccurate-bizarr/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=22 August 2019 |date=11 April 2014}}</ref> AIJAC policy analyst Ahron Shapiro also criticised Carr for attempting to downgrade Australia's relations with Israel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ahron |title=Bob Carr's "slick" manipulation of the facts |url=https://aijac.org.au/update/bob-carr-s-slick-manipulation-of-the-facts/ |publisher=AIJAC |access-date=22 August 2019 |date=11 April 2014}}</ref> By contrast, Loewenstein has praised Carr for challenging AIJAC, alleging that AIJAC's lobbying activities and Ramban trips promoted a negative view of Palestinians and isolated Australia in international community.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Loewenstein |first1=Antony |title=Bob Carr was right to start a debate on the influence of the Zionist lobby |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/15/bob-carr-was-right-to-start-a-debate-on-the-influence-of-the-zionist-lobby |access-date=22 August 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 April 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Carr |first1=Bob |title=Diary of a Foreign Minister |date=2014 |publisher=NewSouth Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9781742234175 |url=https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/diary-foreign-minister/ |access-date=22 August 2019}}
*{{cite book |last1=Levey |first1=Geoffrey Brahm |last2=Mendes |first2=Philip |editor1-last=Levey |editor1-first=Geoffrey Brahm |editor2-last=Mendes |editor2-first=Philip  |title=Jews and Australian Politics |date=2004 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |location=[[Brighton]] |isbn=1-903900-72-7 |pages=215–230 |chapter=The Hanan Ashrawi Affair: Australian Jewish Politics on Display}}
*{{cite book |last1=Loewenstein |first1=Antony |title=My Israel Question |date=2006 |publisher=Melbourne University Press |location=Carlton, Victoria |isbn=0-522-85268-8 |edition=Reprint |url=https://myisraelquestion.com/ |access-date=16 July 2019}}
*{{cite book |last1=Lyons |first1=John |title=Balcony Over Jerusalem |date=2017 |publisher=Harper Collins Publisher Australia |location=Sydney |isbn=9781460752562 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pfihDQAAQBAJ|access-date=22 August 2019}}
*{{cite book |last1=Markus |first1=Andrew |editor1-last=Levey |editor1-first=Geoffrey Brahm |editor2-last=Mendes |editor2-first=Philip |title=Jews and Australian Politics |date=2004 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |location=Brighton |isbn=1-903900-72-7 |pages=118–120 |chapter=Anti-Semitism and Australian Jewry}}
*{{cite book |last1= Reich |first1=Chanan |editor1-last=Levey |editor1-first=Geoffrey |editor2-last=Mendes |editor2-first=Philip |title=Jews and Australian Politics |date=2004 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |location=Brighton |isbn=1-903900-72-7 |pages=198–214 |chapter=Inside AIJAC - An Australian Jewish Lobby Group}}
*{{cite book |last1=Rutland |first1=Suzanne D. |editor1-last=Levey |editor1-first=Geoffrey Brahm |editor2-last=Mendes |editor2-first=Philip |title=Jews and Australian Politic |date=2004 |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |location=Brighton |isbn=1-903900-72-7 |chapter=Who Speaks for Australian Jewry?}}

==External links==
*[https://aijac.org.au/ AIJAC Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council] Official website
*[https://www.youtube.com/@AIJACvideo AIJAC] Official YouTube channel
*[https://www.facebook.com/aijac.au/ AIJAC - Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council] Official Facebook page

{{Jews and Judaism in Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aijac}}
[[Category:Israel friendship associations]]
[[Category:Jews and Judaism in Australia]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australia–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Zionist organizations]]
[[Category:Zionism in Australia]]