Newsletter #16
A recap of events on Pomegranate Place Facebook group from 10/02-25/02
Hello Rumanat/Rimonim!
After a pause, Pomegranate Place has returned. Your admins and moderators work pretty hard under the hood, but we definitely all need a good, supportive community to keep this going! We now have an admin/moderation team of Deborah, Lana, Julian, Jonathan, David and Miriam, with Sol as an elder/advisor.
Locally, tensions between communities are high. We had the social media recordings of the two nurses, and the subsequent pile on and scapegoating of Muslim communities. Looking online, comments are generally toxic and hateful, reflective of other violent global events and damaging, social currents.
It has been a particularly, difficult time for the Australian Jewish community that are connected with Israel. The return of three members of the Bibas family, and Oded Lifshitz, a peace activist, in coffins brought back memories of Oct 7 for many people. It is now time to let Yarden Bibas grieve, for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir, while we all carry on with our work trying to share truth and build peace.
The Pomegranate Place team hope that 2025 allows for new opportunities for lateral conversations between Zionist and non-Zionist Jews, and between Jews and other faith-based communities. Above all, we have to aim for truthful reporting and good moderation.
This week is a brief issue. Remember, if there is something you wish to share let us know.
In this Edition:
✡️ Local Politics, Antisemitism and New Legislative Bill
Victorian Government’s Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024
AJDS Response to Bill
Jewish Australians say NO to ethnic cleansing
Vilification of Zionists and Antisemitism
⚫Hamas, The Hostages, and Civilians
Dahlia Sheindlin in Ha’aretz
⚫Ethnic Cleansing in the West Bank
Haaretz article, 40,000 Palestinians “Evacuated” from West Bank
Standing Together (English social media post)
Orly Noy (social media post, translated by Sol Salbe)
🗳️👨💼 US and International Politics
US Foreign Policy: Analysis articles from Washington Post and Elmira Bayrasli
Elon Musk and Jews: Where does he stand? (The Forward)
👥🤝🕊️Human Rights
The abduction and continued imprisonment of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya (post by Ori Goldberg, translated by Sol Salbe)
🍨Society and Culture
✡️ Local Antisemitism and New Legislative Bill
Victorian Government’s Justice Legislation Amendment (Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion) Bill 2024.
The Bill was introduced in November 2024, and a Bill Brief was published on 3 February 2025.
It's dangerous to claim that criticism of Israel or Zionism implies antisemitism or incites violence, the AJDS responds to the "Anti-vilification and Social Cohesion Bill 2024:
In principle, AJDS offers support for the proposed legislation, particularly given recent violent activity against the Jewish community. The AJDS also unreservedly condemns threatening, disruptive, demeaning or violent threats and behaviour towards any other protected group mentioned in the legislation.
…We also oppose mandatory sentencing.
Jewish Australians say NO to ethnic cleansing
Jews speak out against forced transfer of Palestinians - The Jewish Independent, Deborah Stone, 25/02/2025
A full-page advertisement proclaiming “Jewish Australians say NO to ethnic cleansing” appeared in today’s Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Signed by more than 500 Jewish Australians, the advertisement was designed to demonstrate Jewish opposition to the proposal by US President Donald Trump to forcibly transfer Gaza’s two million residents to Egypt and/or Jordan.
Continuing to insult and vilify “Zionists” will not quell Australia’s antisemitism crisis - ABC Religion & Ethics, Yoni Nazarathy, 17-02-2025
⚫Hamas, The Hostages, and Civilians
No, All Palestinians Don't Back Hamas' Depravity. And All Israelis Don't Back Ben-Gvir's Bloodthirsty Vengeance - Israel News - Haaretz.com, Dahlia Scheindlin, 20-02-2025
[Image above]: ”Israelis in Hostages Square as the bodies of Oded Lifshitz and Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas are brought from Gaza to Israel Credit: Tomer Appelbaum”
When Hamas releasing the bodies of four Israeli hostages – a grandfather, a mother and her two young children – is greeted with calls by Israeli far-right politicians to 'wipe out, punish and destroy', it is necessary to remember that neither Palestinians nor Israelis have a monopoly over depravity, or decency.
⚫Ethnic Cleansing in the West Bank
Israel Says 40,000 Palestinians 'Evacuated' West Bank Refugee Camps, Vows to Stay for a Year - Israel News - Haaretz.com, Bar Peleg, Hagar Shezaf, Feb-23-2025
Residents evacuate Al-Faraa refugee camp, West Bank, earlier this month. Credit: Majdi Mohammed / AP
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that 40,000 Palestinians had been "evacuated" from the Jenin, Tul Karm and Nur al-Shams refugee camps in the West Bank, and that he had instructed the IDF to prepare to remain there for the coming year, preventing residents from returning.
Standing Together Facebook post (in response)
Let’s make one thing clear - this is not actually about Israeli security. This is a consolation prize for Ben Gvir, Smotrich and the other extremists controlling our government. The Israeli government’s strategy of military rule, displacement and relentless bombing and destruction has never brought Israelis any security, and has only been catastrophic for Palestinians. It has only fueled the cycle of violence, revenge and grief.
We have decades of proof of the fact that safety for Israelis will never be achieved through military force. We need real solutions. Solutions that actually bring us closer to safety for everyone. We need political agreements that guarantee freedom, equality and safety for all. Only an end to the occupation and a just and sustainable Israeli-Palestinian peace can achieve this.”
Orly Noy Facebook post - Sol’s English translation and Original
“But what crushes me even more about the warped political and moral aspect is the very thought that so many people see a homogeneous Jewish space as something to aspire to. And suddenly a huge wave of longing arises in me for my childhood neighbourhood of in Tehran, where Muslims, Jews, Baha'is, Zoroastrians, Armenians and others lived side by side, and no one fantasised about making the other disappear.”
🗳️👨💼US and International Politics
For Trump’s peacemaking, Ukrainians and Palestinians are in the way - The Washington Post, Ishaan Tharoor, 14-02-2025
Elmira Bayrasli's substack essay: “Reverse Kissinger”.
Elon Musk and Jews: Where does he stand? – The Forward, Arno Rosenfeld, 20-02-2025
👥🤝🕊️Human Rights
The abduction and imprisonment of Dr Abu Safieh
Sol shared his English translation of a post by Ori Goldberg:
“The GOC Southern Command signed an order ordering the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya as an "illegal combatant" despite the fact that he was a medical doctor who was violently abducted from the hospital he managed. This is actually an administrative detention that will be approved by the Beersheba District Court in 45 days and then can be extended every six months indefinitely. The abduction and imprisonment of Dr Abu Safieh are war crimes. Israel must release him immediately and unconditionally.”
Society and Culture
Israeli Scholar Hani Zubida Has a Question for Mizrahim: 'When Will You Realize You're Arabs?' - Israel News - Haaretz.com, Ronen Tal, Feb-15-2024
Scholar and social activist Hani Zubida refuses to accept stereotypes of Mizrahim and enjoys playing with the dual identity his name suggests while seeking to promote a new Israeli ethnic discourse
Dear Pomegranate Place (Sol Salbe), FB algorithms have cast me into the wilderness forever, as a threat to their concept of community. I am now forbidden access to all META programs. I rely on your considered posts, and I do hope I can follow you, in the outside world.