This blog post will examine the Australian Jewish Association (AJA), its political stance, and how it has garnered mainstream credibility despite not representing the majority of Australian Jews.
The AJA is a private advocacy group that has gained significant media attention, often appearing alongside established Jewish community organisations like the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and the Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA). However, the AJA does not hold the same representative status and its views place it on the far-right of the political spectrum, particularly regarding the Middle East.
AJA's Controversial Stances and Activities
- Opposition to a Two-State Solution: The AJA does not support a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, denying Palestinians the right to their own state. Their mission statement explicitly claims Judea and Samaria, also known as the occupied territories, as part of Israel.
- Labelling Palestinians as Terrorists: Philip Mendes highlights AJA President David Adler's assertion that most Palestinians, or at least their leaders, are involved in terrorism, a view echoed by AJA's Director of Public Affairs, Robert Gregory.
- Association with Right-Wing Political Parties: The AJA has demonstrated its far-right leanings by inviting representatives from parties like Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the Australian Conservatives to their forums.
- Spreading Misinformation and Making Racist Remarks: David Adler, head of the AJA, has been criticized for questioning the Aboriginal heritage of Senator Lidia Thorpe and suggesting that journalist Stan Grant artificially darkened his skin [5-7]. He has also made generalizing statements about Aboriginal people, claiming they "drink themselves to death," engage in violence, and that this is ignored because of their race.
Media's Role in Legitimizing the AJA
Despite its controversial positions and lack of representative status, the AJA has been prominently quoted by major media outlets like the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian. These outlets have often presented the AJA alongside recognized Jewish community organizations without clarifying its far-right political stance. This uncritical coverage has granted the AJA undeserved mainstream credibility, creating a platform for them to misrepresent themselves as representing a broader Jewish constituency.
The Danger of Normalizing the AJA's Views
The mainstreaming of the AJA is concerning for several reasons. It:
- Misleads the public by presenting the AJA as a representative Jewish voice when it is not.
- Provides a platform for the AJA to push its far-right agenda into mainstream political discourse.
- Further shifts the already conservative landscape of Jewish voices in Australia to the right, marginalizing progressive perspectives.
Criticisms and Rejections of the AJA
Prominent figures within the Jewish community, like Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council chairman Mark Leibler, have condemned Adler's comments and the AJA's views as incompatible with Jewish values. Notably, established Jewish organizations like the ECAJ and ZFA have declined to comment on the AJA, and the AJA is not affiliated with any major Jewish community bodies.
The AJA's rise to prominence and the media's uncritical acceptance of their views raise serious concerns about the representation of Jewish voices in Australia. It is crucial to recognize the AJA's far-right stance and to promote a more balanced and inclusive dialogue that reflects the diversity of perspectives within the Jewish community.
Podcasts:
Resources:
https://johnmenadue.com/an-ultraconservative-shadow-network-is-forming-designed-to-influence-you/
