New NIF head just wants Israel to ‘live up to its Declaration of Independence’

With Liam Getreu stepping down after 10 years at the helm, Michael Chaitow has been appointed as NIF Australia’s new executive director. He spoke to ITTAY FLESCHER ahead of taking up his role.

Two things struck me during my interview Michael Chaitow, just after he returned to Sydney after a long stint in the US working for J Street and NIF USA. One was his Zoom background, which carried an NIF logo in Hebrew, Arabic and English beside an artwork with a large fist that contained the words, “Push back for democracy”.

The second was the fact that every time he referred to the country where NIF operated, he always called it “Israel and Palestine”.

Asked to reflect on his Israel education at Sydney’s Masada College, Chaitow, 32, told The Jewish Independent: “I developed a more holistic and complex narrative after graduating from high school, as in school I received a firmly one-sided education.”

When Chaitow started politically organising, specifically through his involvement in the Australian Labor Party, he came to view Israel through lenses other than the Jewish-Australian narrative. These new perspectives made him quite sympathetic to what he called a “a pro-human rights framing around resolving the conflict, fostering two states for two people”.

While he did a few summer camps with Hineni and Habonim, he didn’t go on a Shnat program, saying the first time he met someone Palestinian was not in Israel, but rather in Sydney.

“It was probably after I joined the Labor party, working for the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, meeting folks involved in Labor for Palestine, that I developed a more holistic vision of the conflict.”

He then went to America where he worked as Associate Regional Director at J Street, then Director of J Street U (university campuses). His most recent role was Director of Digital Strategy at NIF US before being appointed to lead NIF Australia. 

Regarding the initial backlash from then Zionist Federation of Australia president Philip Chester when the NIF first began operating in Australia 10 years ago, Chaitow said in many ways that was old news. He said NIF Australia now has a strong and growing supporter base who are very concerned about what is happening in Israel today.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to engage with anyone willing to have a conversation about how to support Israelis and Palestinians who are fighting to preserve and promote social justice and human rights,” he added.

He's not worried that the NIF’s firm criticism of the 56-year military occupation of the Palestinian people will give encouragement to those who don’t want Israel to exist, explaining that he views criticism as a form of bettering rather than battering. 

“I think that the love of a place obliges you to critique it when it’s not living up to its highest values. Just as my love of Australia informs my criticism of this country when it’s fallen short on issues such as climate change and refugees, it’s my love of Israel and my understanding of the needs of all the people living there that informs my criticism, because I simply want Israel to live up to what was envisioned in its Declaration of Independence signed by its founders in 1948.”

Regarding the current protests in Israel to stop the government’s  assault on the judiciary, he pushed back at those who say Diaspora Jews should either stay silent or make Aliyah, encouraging all who care about the state to join the mostly Israeli-led protests happening on Sundays now in Caulfield Park and Milsons Point. 

“I don’t think you need to live within the state in order to maintain the connection that was fostered within you from a young age,” he explains.

Chaitow said the Australian Jewish community is perceived as very politically conservative, often making it harder to express criticism of Israeli government policies. “But the success of NIF in the past 10 years has shown that this is no longer the case. We have a passionate and growing community, and this current government is creating links with others who realise how much is at stake.”

In the 10 years since it began operations in Australia, NIF has distributed more than $5 million to support projects promoting equality, justice and democracy in Israel-Palestine.

Asked what the position of NIF would be towards Israel if the Netanyahu government’s judicial reforms pass with no amendments, which is looking increasingly likely to become a reality before Israel’s 75th anniversary, Chaitow said NIF has always risen to the moment when the times are most difficult.

“Just because this bill passes, it’s doesn’t mean we give up,” adding that “our grantees who are fighting for Israel to be a true home for all its citizens need us more than ever.

 “We won’t stand idly by.”

Asked how he would respond if the Labor government under Anthony Albanese recognised the State of Palestine, Chaitow explained that this initiative would be done in the context of Australia’s long-held support of peace through a viable two-state solution, and as such would be welcomed by the NIF Australia.

He added that he would be keen to continue NIF’s advocacy engagement “across the political spectrum - Labor, Liberals, Greens, Teals and whoever will meet with us”.

In announcing Chaitow’s appointment as Executive Director last month, NIF Australia Chairman Ric Benjamin noted that “NIF has always supported Israeli grassroots organisations who fight for social justice and human rights.

“This work is more important than ever to push back against the Netanyahu government’s plans to erode the country’s democratic values and to prevent attempts to discriminate against women, the non-orthodox streams of Judaism, the LGBTQI+ community and change the laws of Who is a Jew.”

At a time when the Zionist Left seems to be much less forthright and assertive in its views than the Zionist Right in Australia, Chaitow has a big challenge - and opportunity - ahead of him.

Photo: Michael Chaitow