Israel Matzav

Australian victim was JNF emissary

One of the victims of an anti-Semitic assault in a Sydney, Australia suburb on Friday night was an emissary of the Jewish National Fund.

Efi Stenzler, world chairman of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, announced that he will convene an emergency meeting of his organization’s international representatives following the beating of Australian emissary Shlomo Ben-Haim and his wife in Sydney on Saturday.

The Ben-Haims and three other Jews were beaten on their way home from synagogue, resulting in wounds requiring hospitalization.

“The violent Sydney attack which came just hours after an anti-Israel protest in Denver, Colorado, as well as demonstrations in France and Belgium, require that we address the situation immediately,” Stenzler said.

The KKL-JNF executive was referring to protests outside of the home of Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was hosting KKL-JNF officials in town for their annual conference. The protesters, who also gathered outside the hotel in which the event was being held, waved signs calling for the end of Israeli “ethnic cleansing.”

“Attacks and demonstrations against us [Jews] have picked up momentum of late, we are targeted first and foremost because we are helping to realize the Zionist vision,” Stenzler said. “The protesters denounce KKLJNF since they recognize us as an organization that realizes the vision of Zionism.”

The Sydney attack is suspected of being racially motivated, with Ben-Haim telling the press that his assailants yelled “bloody Jews” during the melee.

You will note that there is still no hint as to the ethnicity of the attackers - not even their names. You'd have to read me or Robert Spencer to know that. Read the whole thing. I hope that at least the Jews are getting it.

Labels: anti-Semitism, Australia

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:24 PM