Former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has called on Jewish philanthropists to cut funding to beneficiaries who fail to speak out against antisemitism during a rare public address.
The World Zionist Organization, the Zionist Federation of Australia and the Zionist Federation of Victoria awarded him the Jerusalem Medal during a special presentation on Sunday night.
During his speech at the Melbourne event, a rarity since he resigned as the state’s longest-serving Labor premier a year ago, Andrews urged the Jewish community to “defund” organizations that refused to denounce antisemitism. or showed their support for Palestine.
Specifically, he called on charitable members to stop funding creative initiatives that have remained silent or have not supported Israel since the Hamas attacks began on October 7, 2023.
The attacks claimed the lives of 1,200 people and launched Israel’s continuing military operations against Gaza and Lebanon, which are believed to have killed more than 40,000.
‘If people don’t speak out against antisemitism, defund them. “If people are willing to take your money being anti-Semitic, defund them,” Mr. Andrews told those attending the event. The age reported.
‘If you want to support Hamas, have them pay your bills, have them fund your programs and build your buildings. I’m serious. We are beyond the tropes. Silence and much worse things are only possible if there are no consequences.’
The former prime minister added that the Jewish community was the most generous and that “no state has a better developed culture, endowment and philanthropic giving than Victoria.”
Former Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews (pictured with his wife, Catherine) told Jewish philanthropists to be careful who they donate to as he was awarded the Jerusalem Medal by Zionist organisations.
Andrews urged members of the Jewish community to “defund” organizations that refuse to denounce antisemitism or show support for Palestine (pictured, a pro-Israel rally in Melbourne earlier this year).
‘I would respectfully ask each of you to continue to review your donations. “Check and double-check that those who so happily benefit from your generosity are not in real terms so-called friends or, worse, actually working against the Jewish community and decency itself,” he said.
Andrews, who has been an outspoken supporter of Israel since he was first elected to state parliament in 2002, was awarded the medal on Sunday for his “outstanding contribution” to building ties between Australia and Israel and his support of the Jewish community. .
Other notable guests at the ceremony at the Central Synagogue in Caulfield South were Israel’s ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon, federal attorney-general Mark Dreyfus, federal Labor MP Josh Burns and state Liberal MP David Southwick.
Andrews revealed that his long-standing support for Israel was informed by his studies of Middle East history and politics at Monash University.
“My support for Israel has always been based on simple and fundamental logic,” he said.
‘Israel is the only democracy in a despotic region. The only place with gender equality before the law, the only place where people are free and safe to love who they love, criticize their government if they want, and organize in their workplaces.
“Over these past 12 months, I, like all of you, have felt angry and saddened by those who know nothing about the history of this region but have opinions about its future, those who know little about Israel or the Jewish people but are They feel obligated and able to criticize, and perhaps worst of all, those whose antisemitism has been exposed by the events of antisemitism and conflict.
‘The ferocity and brazenness of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel sentiment is unlike anything I have ever seen. “It is a stain on the nation and shames us all.”
Andrews (pictured with his wife) received the medal on Sunday for his “outstanding contribution” to building ties between Australia and Israel and supporting the Jewish community.
As an example of the discrepancy between common Palestinian beliefs and those protesting on their behalf in Australia, Andrews recalled seeing a pro-Palestinian protester wearing a rainbow t-shirt.
‘She obviously supported the LBQTI+ community, as did I. Try wearing that shirt in Gaza and see how it works for you,” he said.
Andrews added that he would “publicly and loudly” support members of the Jewish community who terminated philanthropic funding to organizations because of their views toward Israel or the Jewish people.