This article, by AJDS Executive member Harold Zwier was published, in a very slightly modified form in the Australian Jewish News of 2 Feb 2012. The AJN version is attached below.

Recently The Age newspaper reported that the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) had complained to the SBS ombudsman about a fictional drama, The Promise, shown on SBS late in 2011. The drama is set against the historical background of Palestine at the end of the British Mandate 1947/48 and Israel in 2005.

The main contention of the ECAJ is summed up in this quote from their complaint to SBS.

"The basic concept of The Promise, and the premises on which it rests, are ... not merely a gross misrepresentation of history, they also fall squarely within the ... Working Definition of Antisemitism."

The showing of The Promise pushed all the wrong buttons in the Jewish community. It is an unsentimental and unflattering portrait of Israel's creation. The portrayal of Jews is less sympathetic than those of the Arabs. The main Jewish family depicted in modern day Israel is wealthy. The historical narrative is biased towards the Arabs.

The SBS Ombudsman rejected the complaints made by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and others against The Promise.

The text of the SBS response and the lack of satifaction it provides hard liners can be seen at Galusaustralis.

This article by Anat Saragusti, a guest of the 2008 Melbourne LimmudOz conference was not offered to readers of the English Haaretz.

It has been translated as a public service by Sol Salbe of the Middle East News Service of Melbourne, Australia. It has been made available with Sol's permission for those without Facebook Accounts.

Hebrew original: http://www.haaretz.co.il/opinions/1.1623616Opinions

Forbidden discrimination, permitted discrimination Anat Saragusti 23/01/12

That's right. Get rid of Obama and get more pro-Israel VP or President in the driver's seat. It is all over the news, eg. in Haaretz, but also all over the US media.

But just so you can see it is not a beat up, attached is the text of the oped piece by owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Andrew Adler.

Two things 1) I've always not thought much of the South 2) given nut case politics in the US, this actually might inspire someone.

For once I hope the Secret Service have a little chat with the editor. Click Read more for the file.

The AJDS has come into possession of the investigation and decision from OfCom, the UK electronic media Complaints Authority, concerning "The Promise" (attached below). This investigation was carried out in response to complaints made about the program in the UK, including that of the British (Jewish) Board of Deputies (the correspondence with Channel 4 who broadcast the program can be seen here) We understand that the ruling was issued at the start of April 2011.

We are not quite sure why the ruling was not made publicly available on the OfCom website, as it is similar to other rulings they conduct, and paticularly since it was quoted in the press and seems to have been available to the ECAJ who dismiss it it in their letter of complaint to SBS management. Be that as it may, it is important that issues around The Promise" be shared as widely as possible.

We suggest that you read the Ofcom document and then compare it to the ECAJ complaint. Ofcom is well experienced with hate speech in the electronic media, as a perusal of its Bulletin makes clear.

In its letter published here, says "Ofcom recognises that many portrayals by UK broadcasters of the history of and current situation in Israel and neighbouring territories are controversial – whether in non-fiction or as here drama programmes. I can assure you that Ofcom took your complaint, and all the other complaints, about this series very seriously. "

[read on]

The AJDS had the lead letter in the Melbourne Age on 'The Promise Controversy', accompanied by two excellent others, including Jeremy Kenner, an ADJS member.

The Age, January 18, 2012

Biased, yes, but worth seeing

AS A fictional narrative about the Arab-Israeli conflict, The Promise indeed presents a biased perspective. It is impossible to imagine that any filmmaker, historian or novelist could do other than present a perspective that is biased by their own worldview. If objectivity was a fundamental principle of presentation, then virtually no historical work would be acceptable.

[read on...]

An opinion by Larry Stillman of the AJDS Executive has been published on the ABC website.

Another freedom of expression issue has raised its head in the Jewish community in Australia.

This time, it involves a series which recently appeared on SBS and is now being sold as a DVD....for the rest, go to The Drum

[and I will add that I have dealt with "the Lobby" and its censoriousness on various occasions such as this one]

It's that very important time of the year again! The AJDS AGM will be held on February 12 at 1590 High St, Glen Iris. BBQ at 1 pm, AGM at 2.30 pm. Please bring your own meat and wine. This will be a very important AGM for the organisation, all members please come along and participate in deciding where to for the AJDS in 2012 and beyond. Please see flyer attached.

All members must be financial to participate but can renew on the day. We invite all members to consider standing for the executive committee.

Please contact Max at co.ajds@gmail.com for more information

Please click the link for the latest issue of the AJDS Newsletter.

Happy Chanukah and a Happy New Year - Max

First published in Australian Jewish Historical Society Journal, Vol.20, Part 3, November 2011, pp.430-443.

Please see attached for footnoted version.

There are two principal historical perspectives concerning Australian Jewry’s engagement with Indigenous concerns.

One perspective, which is often cited in the Jewish media, holds that Jews have been prominent in the struggle for Indigenous rights. This perspective typically cites a number of examples of this support. They include: