Australian J-Com responds to Israel’s attack on Iran and government sanctions

The range of views within the Australian Jewish community about Israel and its government has been a subject of intense scrutiny since October 7, 2023.

Two unrelated but politically divisive events during the past month have offered important insights into their positions and sympathies. The first was Australia’s decision to sanction two Israeli ministers over their public statements, and the second, beginning a few days later, was Israel’s attack on Iran and the US bombing of its nuclear assets.

The Jewish Independent has looked at the responses from six key advocacy groups from across the political spectrum – the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA), the Australia Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), the Executive Council for Australian Jewry (ECAJ), the Jewish Council of Australia (JCA), New Israel Fund Australia (NIF) and the Australian Jewish Association (AJA).

While most of their responses were consistent with previous positions adopted since the brutal Hamas attacks, two striking sentiments did emerge: concerns on the Left over Israel’s attack on Iran, and criticism on the Right over the behaviour of the extremist Israeli ministers.

A few days before the Israel-Iran war began, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the government had issued sanctions against Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, accusing them of inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Under a joint action by the Australian, British, Canadian, New Zealand and Norwegian governments, the pair would face travel bans and have their assets frozen.