Jewish Group Calls on Australian Government to Cease Funding to Palestinian Territories

The Australian government provided $38.1 million in aid to the Palestinian Occupied Territories in 2022-23.

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on Oct. 8, 2023. Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) is urging the Australian government to cease sending Australian taxpayer funds to the Palestinian territories immediately.

They’ve warned that this money is being used to “fund incitement of Palestinian Arabs.”

“Stop every dollar sent to the Palestinian territories or we are complicit,” the association wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong were criticised for the government’s recent increase in the aid budget to the Palestinian Territories, which amounts to tens of millions of Australian dollars being sent annually.

AJA likens this support to funding schools and activities in Nazi Germany during World War II.

“Other countries have cancelled their funding,” they said, adding that they encourage people to contact their local Members of Parliament to demand a halt to this financial assistance.

Government’s Stance Toward Palestinian Territories

The Australian Labor government provided $38.1 million (US$24.5 million) in aid to the Palestinian Occupied Territories (POTs) in the 2022-23 financial year in the form of humanitarian assistance and development aid.

Labor’s Draft National Platform (pdf) for their 49th Annual Conference in 2023 expresses support for the recognition and the right of both Israel and Palestine to exist as two separate states within secure and acknowledged borders.

The consultation paper also calls on the Australian government to officially recognise Palestine as a state and emphasise the significance of this matter as a priority.

Zionist Federation of Australia

Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler said the Australian Jewish community joins the rest of the world in “reeling from the horror that is unfolding in Israel.”

“We stand in absolute solidarity with the people of Israel and the brave IDF soldiers who are risking their lives to provide security and stability for Israeli citizens,” he said.

Further, he expressed deep concern about the recent display of Hamas’s violent ideology and actions, along with segments of the Australian community celebrating these acts.

“This conduct amounts to incitement to violence and will place the Australian Jewish community at risk. We call on the authorities to investigate. Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation and advocating terrorist actions is a crime in Australia,” Mr. Leibler said.

Soldiers walk in front of an Israeli police station that was damaged during battles to dislodge Hamas militants who were stationed inside, on Oct. 8, 2023. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

What is Happening in Israel

Iran-backed Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 8, firing hundreds of rockets into southern Israel as well as launching attacks within Israel.

Israel responded to the Hamas assault with Operation Swords of Iron, which the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) describes as a “large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas.”

However, the operation is complicated by the terrorist group’s use of the Gaza civilian population as human shields.

The attacks have killed at least 1,200 Israelis, including civilians and soldiers, and injured thousands more. Hamas also kidnapped Israeli hostages.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least 900 people in Gaza have been killed.

On Oct. 9, Hamas threatened to execute Israeli hostages if Israel continued to bomb civilian houses without warning. However, IDF said they were valid airstrike targets, noting Hamas operated from civilian buildings.

Hamas is classified as a terrorist group by several countries, including Australia, the United States, and the European Union.