The Zionist Federation of Australia condemns the Jerusalem terror attack and stands with Israel. Three people were murdered when gunmen fired on civilians in Jerusalem on Thursday morning local time. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “Yet again, the people of Israel and the Jewish people are united in mourning. Yet again, Palestinian terrorists have targeted […]

The Zionist Federation of Australia is disgusted by the protesters in Melbourne overnight who intimidated the families of hostages taken by the terrorist organisation Hamas on October 7. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “There is support for the Palestinian cause, and then there is the vile, cruel intimidation of people whose loved ones have been […]

8am AEDT, 30 November What’s happening? Today is the sixth day of the truce. Hamas is due to release 10 Israeli civilian hostages, but the release has been ‘delayed’ as this newsletter is being written. Two Russian-Israelis and a foreign national were released earlier today. Hamas has apparently expressed a desire to extend the truce […]

11:15am AEDT, Wednesday 29 November What’s happening? The fifth tranche of hostages were released overnight, despite a breach in the truce by Palestinian fighters. They include nine Israeli women and a teenaged girl, the daughter of one of those released. The heads of the Mossad and CIA are in Qatar, negotiating Hamas’s request to extend the ceasefire. […]

A letter signed by thousands of Australians affirming their solidarity with Israel was today presented to Israeli President Isaac Herzog at a meeting with a leadership delegation of the Zionist Federation of Australia and the United Israel Appeal in Jerusalem. In Israel for the solidarity mission, ZFA President, Jeremy Leibler, and UIA President, Esther Frenkiel […]

6:30am AEDT, Monday 28 November What’s happening?  Hamas played more mind games with Israelis, threatening to delay the release of the fourth tranche of hostages, but, as this newsletter is being prepared, 11 more Israelis were ‘on track’ to be released today. This is who they are. Qatar and the US have announced an extension […]

7am AEDT, Monday 27 November What’s happening? 14 more Israelis were released overnight, nine of them children. Among those released is four-year-old Avigail Idan, whose parents were murdered on 7 October, and whose two siblings survived by hiding in a closet for 14 hours. Following the release, 177 hostages remain held by Hamas: 18 children (8 girls and […]

6am AEDT, Sunday 26 November What’s happening? The first 13 Israeli hostages, plus 11 foreign nationals were released by Hamas on Friday afternoon, local time. Hamas reportedly ‘delayed‘ the return of the next tranche of hostages. After Israel threatened to resume military operations if they weren’t released by midnight (9am AEDT) (plus ‘unspecified threats’ from Qatar), Hamas […]

On 22 November, UN Watch announced that it had written to the UN Secretary-General, requesting that he terminate the mandate of Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, accusing her of breaching the UN Code of Conduct by accepting a paid trip to Australia. The UN Watch statement is here. The Zionist Federation of Australia’s Director of Public […]

The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomes the impending release of some Israeli hostages. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said that it is with tremendous relief that more than 50 of the hostages will be returning home to their loved ones, but we want to see the release of every hostage as soon as possible. “Notwithstanding that […]

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) has announced the appointment of Alon Cassuto as its new CEO, to lead the organisation through the most challenging times faced by Australia’s Jewish community. Cassuto, an accomplished lawyer and management consultant will replace outgoing CEO Ginette Searle on January 8. His appointment follows a global search. Born and […]

On Saturday 18 November, Foreign Minister Wong announced an expansion of sanctions against Hamas. The Zionist Federation of Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s expansions of sanctions against Hamas-related individuals. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said, “The Government has put its money where its mouth is. Hamas terrorises Israeli civilians and imposes a medieval Islamist dictatorship over […]