“Ambassadors of Truth”: Scott Morrison to speak in Israel as Gazans keep dying
Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will join far-right political figures as the keynote speaker at an Israeli-sponsored antisemitism conference later this month. Stephanie Tran reports.
Scott Morrison announced as keynote speaker Generation Truth An antisemitism conference held in Israel later this month came under criticism for its inclusion of far-right European political figures and was boycotted by major Jewish organisations.
The event, organized by Israel’s minister of diaspora affairs, Amichai Chikli, is planned to be held on January 27 at the Jerusalem International Convention Center.
Accordingly Haaretz newsPoliticians from far-right European parties and figures from movements with historical ties to Holocaust denial and extreme ideologies will also attend the conference. Last year’s event was like this widely boycotted By Jewish community leaders and organizations.
A representative said they were “surprised to see this.”
“Almost exclusively far-right MPs were invited to the conference.”
Banning aid, deleting Australians’ personal information
Chikli has been criticized before improve ties Along with far-right movements in Europe.
Last month his department published a dossier naming Australian politicians and activists critical of Israel as “significant drivers” of antisemitism, prompting NSW MP Anthony D’Adam to call for an investigation by Australia’s home affairs minister. potential foreign intervention.
Chikli also played a central role in its promotion. new registration conditions For international aid organizations that require their Palestinian employees to disclose personal information. These measures resulted in 37 NGOs being banned from operating in Gaza.
Humanitarian groups and the UN Secretary-General have warned that the restrictions would have devastating consequences for Palestinians in need of aid; especially given that the organizations face the possibility of having to withdraw completely on March 1, 2026, unless their registration is renewed by the Israeli government.
NGOs warn of catastrophic impact, Penny Wong doesn’t care
Morrison’s support record for Israel
During his time as prime minister, Morrison has positioned himself as one of the strongest supporters of Israel among Australia’s western allies.
government officially adopted The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in 2021. The IHRA definition has been criticized for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism by the original drafter of the definition. condemning weaponization of the definition by governments to attack academic freedom and freedom of expression
Morrison too reputed West Jerusalem became Israel’s capital in 2018 and opened a Trade and Defense Office there in 2019. international consensus He said that unilateral claims of sovereignty over Jerusalem are against international law.
Criticized UN, protesters, ABC
One speech At the Sydney Institute, Morrison described the UN General Assembly as a forum in which “Israel is bullied and antisemitism is cloaked in human rights language”. He doubled down on these promises in 2024 and accused The UN bans anti-Semitism and applies double standards towards Israel.
Morrison in 2019 rewarded Jeremy Leibler, the recipient of the Zionist Federation of Australia’s Jerusalem Prize, praises Morrison for changing Australia’s voting pattern at the UN General Assembly to oppose what he described as “humiliating” resolutions targeting Israel.
recently opinion piece In his article titled ‘Labour Has Made Australia Safe for Antisemitism’, Morrison argued that weekly pro-Palestinian protests are taking place in Australia:It culminated in anti-Israel protesters marching to the Sydney Harbor Bridge.”
Morrison also singled out universities, arts institutions and the ABC, calling for an end to the “hateful culture of enabling protest, oppression and bullying” and arguing that what was missing was “political will”.
Hundreds of Palestinians were killed despite the ceasefire
Morrison’s appearance at the conference also comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.
Israeli attacks have increased since the ceasefire came into force on October 11. was killed At least 449 Palestinians and 1,246 others were injured. many of these attacks occurred in residential areas and tents sheltering displaced civilians.
According to UNICEFMore than 100 children have been killed since the October ceasefire, equivalent to “about one girl or boy killed every day”.
Morrison did not respond to a request for comment.
Antisemitism Act. Same shirt. Different stairs. Years of imprisonment.
Stephanie is a journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that hold power to account. With experience in both law and journalism, he worked at The Guardian and worked as a paralegal, where he assisted Crikey’s defense team in the high-profile libel case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. His reporting has been recognized nationally, earning him the 2021 Guardians of Democracy Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.
