The importance of Yom Ha’azmaut and Yom Hazikaron - JWire, 7 April 2010

By Dr Danny Lamm, President, Zionist Council of Victoria

Israel has entered the new decade with challenges on so many fronts. The geographical challenge remains – Israel is surrounded by traditional enemies who have one common motivation, the annihilation of the State of Israel.

Settlement debate not just for Israelis - AJN Viewpoint, 4 December 2009

By Dr. Danny Lamm, President, Zionist Council of Victoria

Click here for article

Balance is the key to responsible reporting - The Australian Jewish News (December 4, 2009)

Viewpoint by Keith Buxton - National Director, Bridges for Peace

In response to a controversial article in a Uniting Church publication, the national director of Bridges for Peace says responsible reporting on Israel requires historical and political facts from both sides.
The ZCV works closely with Bridges for Peace and congragulates Keith Buxton for his well-timed and articulate reply.

Click here for article

Church Paper Slammed - AJN 27 November 2009

Chantal Abitbol

Click here for more

Swan, Same share the same stage - AJN, 13 November 2009

Dalia Sable

Click here for more

Building a Nation - AJN Feature, 13 November 2009

Talia Jacobs

Click here for article

The Goldstone Report and the allegations against Israel - On Line Opinion (23 October 2009)

Sharene Hambur - Acting President, ZCV

The Goldstone Report was flawed from its inception and its adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) only serves to highlight the bias of this organisation which has been evident in so many of its actions.

Last week, the UNHRC endorsed the Goldstone Report by a vote of 25-6. The United States, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Ukraine opposed the resolution, while Britain and France declined to vote. Russia, China, Bangladesh, Cuba, Ghana, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and Zambia were among those that voted in favour of the resolution.

Read op-ed here

'Our man' on the world stage - Sunday Herald Sun (18 October 2009)
Focus section

Israel's Aussie-born media man has high hopes for peace in the Middle East

Printed article here

Regev in bid to promote peace - The Australian (October 17, 2009)

Rowan Callick

ISRAEL'S international spokesman, Mark Regev, says hopes for peace run on a triple track - politics, the economy and security, with each needing the other elements to succeed.

"Now we want to see the other side play its cards" - beyond imposing new preconditions on talks, he says during a trip home to Melbourne this week. "The core of the conflict is mutual recognition."

Read more...

Talk to Hamas? It’s a debate – The Australian Jewish News (October 16, 2009)

Peter Kohn

SHOULD the West engage Hamas? If ever there was an explosive debating topic, this was it.

The Monash Association of Debaters chose the proposition for its annual Vice-Chancellor’s Debate on October 14 featuring six debaters including former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, federal MP for Isaacs Mark Dreyfus and Zionist Council of Victoria president Dr Danny Lamm.

Printed article here

Online report here

Regev: Goldstone report a ‘Stalinist show trial’ - The Australian Jewish News (October 16, 2009)

Ahron Shapiro

Mark Regev, the Australian-born spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, spoke to The AJN on Wednesday in a candid interview that outlined the challenges facing the Netanyahu government in both foreign and domestic affairs and its intentions regarding them.

Printed article here

Mark Regev upbeat on Middle East peace – The Australian (October 15, 2009)

Rowan Callick

ISRAEL'S international spokesman, Australian Mark Regev, has identified progress towards Middle East peace, including the economic takeoff in the Palestinian West Bank and Arab unity against Iran.

Mr Regev, a former Israeli Foreign Ministry diplomat in Beijing and Washington, was asked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stay on as his spokesman, after working for his predecessor Ehud Olmert.

Read article here

Mark Regev – ABC Radio National LateNightLive with Phillip Adams (October 14, 2009)

The official spokesman for the government of Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu talks about Israel's response to the Goldstone report into war crimes during the 2009 Gaza War; the government's policy on settlements in the occupied territories; and Israel's approach to Iran.

Listen and download here

Mark Regev – JJJ’s Hack program (October 14, 2009)

Prime Minister of Israel's spokesman talks peace and the Goldstone report

Listen here 

Mark Regev – ABC Radio National PM with Mark Colvin (October 14, 2009)

Israel rejects UN report on Gaza invasion

Nearly a month after the UN released its report on Israel's invasion of Gaza earlier this year, Israel says the inquiry was biased from the outset. The Israeli Government spokesman is speaking here with Mark Colvin.

Listen and read transcript here

Mark Regev – ABC 774 Mornings with Jon Faine (October 14, 2009)

And after 9...will giving President Obama the Nobel Peace Prize take the intractable Israeli/Palestinian conflict a step closer to peace?  Israel's man in the Middle East… (and Melbourne boy) …Mark Regev joined Jon Faine in the studio … and told him why he thinks it will.

Download Mark Regev audio

Age responds to community concerns - The Australian Jewish News (October 9, 2009)

Naomi Levin

Read more...

Community urged to continue campaign for Shalit’s release - The Australian Jewish News (October 7, 2009)
Dalia Sable

Australia’s Zionist community has expressed hope that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will be released alive following a video delivered last week by Hamas.

Read More...

Nazi gibe shock jock feels heat – Herald Sun (September 10, 2009)

Emily Power & Ben Butler

Click here for the print newspaper article

Kyle Sandilands' career deep in crisis after Magda gag - heraldsun.com.au

KYLE Sandilands' career is in crisis with a major sponsor pulling out of his show and enraged community leaders demanding his sacking.

The big-mouth broadcaster was suspended from air for a second time by Austereo, and he may never return after his cruel death-camp dig at actor Magda Szubanski sparked widespread anger.

Read more...

Missile City Postcard - ABC LateNightLive with Phillip Adams (August 12, 2009)

A conversation about the psychological effect of living under constant threat from missile attack, which is the everyday situation for the residents of Sderot in southern Israel.

Last week we heard of the ongoing effects of trauma on Palestinian children in Gaza, and this describes the traumatic effect on children over the border in southern Israel, where a siren indicates there are just 15 seconds to find shelter.

Click here to listen

Gilad Shalit held captive by Hamas for 3 years - The Australian Jewish News (June 26, 2009)

“Marking Shalit’s anniversary” (Dalia Sable)

AUSTRALIAN’S are being encouraged to mark the third anniversary of Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldier Gilad Shalit’s capture by wearing blue ribbons and expressing their support online.

In Melbourne the Zionist Council of Victoria (ZCV), Hagshama, the Australian Friends of Hebrew University and the Jewish National Fund will also screen a documentary about Shalit, based on his mother Aviva’s recollections.

Read more...

Stop the terror, then let's talk - On Line Opinion (17 June 2009)

Dr Danny Lamm, President ZCV

Barack Obama has been exerting pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to freeze settlement construction, including natural growth, in towns in the West Bank. His rationale - so that the Palestinians can establish their own state, side by side with Israel, and live in peace with their neighbours.

Apart from raising the vexing question as to why, in a situation of peace, 1.5 million Palestinian Arabs can live in Israel but no Israelis can live in Palestine, Obama’s apparent strategy fails to take into account, even the most recent history.

Read more...

ZCV and JCCV Yom Ha’atzmaut 2009 Cocktail Reception - The Australian Jewish News (June 10, 2009)

“A l'chaim for Israel” (Naomi Levin)

VICTORIAN Premier John Brumby raised his glass to Israel and to the local Jewish community at a cocktail party on June 9, which served as a delayed Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration.

Brumby commended the Jewish community both for its strong advocacy to stop hate crime and its support earlier in the year for the victims of Victoria's bushfires.

Read more...

Speech by JCCV president John Searle
Speech by ZCV president Dr Danny Lamm

ZCV President Dr Danny Lamm on the bloggers who criticise community organisations - The Age (June 7, 2009)

“Blog takes on the 'swill' who speak for Jews” (Tom Hyland)

Dr Lamm sees no problem with the existence of the new group. "The fact that people want to encourage discussion and thinking is all positive," he says.

But he denies community leaders are losing the PR battle or that they are unrepresentative.

ZCV President Dr Danny Lamm on strengthening Victoria’s Sentencing Act in relation to race crimes – J-Wire (June 3, 2009)

Victoria ups the ante against racism (Henry Benjamin)

Victoria’s Sentencing Act is to be amended to require judges to take into account racial hatred or prejudice against a particular group when sentencing.

The State’s Attorney-General Rob Hulls told media that the Sentencing Advisory Council is currently working on the best way to amend the Act and is expected to file its report next month. Hulls said: “I would expect legislation to be passed by the end of the year bringing Victoria into line with the approach taken by New South Wales.”

Read more...

ZCV President Dr Danny Lamm on “7 Jewish Children” – the ABC’s Lateline program (May 19, 2009)

Jewish groups protest ahead of controversial play (Rafael Epstein)

View video...

Yom Ha’atzmaut 2009 – The Australian Jewish News (May 4, 2009) Celebrating 61 years of independence (AJN staff)

MELBOURNE’S Jewish community showcased its immense talent at the annual Yom Ha’atzmaut concert on April 28.

With organisers, the Zionist Council of Victoria, opting for an all-Australian cast, the audience for Israel’s 61st anniversary of independence was not left disappointed.

Read more...

Yom Hazikaron for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror 2009 – The Australian Jewish News (April 28, 2009)
A show of solemn solidarity (Ahron Shapiro)

ABOUT 1200 people gathered in respect and solidarity at Monash University’s Robert Blackwood Hall in Melbourne on a rain-swept Monday night (April 27) for the Yom Hazikaron Commemoration for Israel’s Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror.

Read more...

So Why Celebrate? Viewpoint in Australian Jewish News (April 24, 2009)

Dr Danny Lamm, President ZCV

A lot can change in just one year.

Israel’s 60th independence day celebrations in 2008 were joyous and whole hearted. We in Victoria, like communities from Brussels to Buenos Aires, from Peru to Paris, from Johannesburg to Jerusalem, presented concerts and activities which captured the attention and the imagination of hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.