Biran rings bell on inequality
ISRAELI Labour Party MK Michal Biran raised the issues of rising inequality and the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict as key challenges facing Israel today.
ISRAELI Labour Party MK Michal Biran raised the issues of rising inequality and the unresolved Israeli–Palestinian conflict as key challenges facing Israel today in a wide-ranging speech at Double Bay Library on June 18.
A guest of the Zionist Federation of Australia and Zionist Council of NSW, Biran said millions of Israelis are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living – an issue she is passionate about, having come to prominence in politics by helping to lead the 2011 social justice protests in Israel.
“People in Israel are working crazy hours, everything we are paying for is going up, and accommodation is double the cost than Australia’s when compared on the basis of salaries,” Biran said.
“This is a challenge we must face up to, because otherwise we risk losing our best brains, as families leave to go and find work overseas.”
On the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Biran said “having two million people [Palestinians] who are not citizens of a country is a problem, and it is undermining our legitimacy internationally.
“The Zionist dream is to have both a Jewish state and a democratic state – it doesn’t have to be a choice between the two.”
Biran briefly touched on her recent interaction with British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn at a conference in the UK, and his popularity boost from the closeness of the recent British election result.
“I said to him how can you call Hamas and Hezbollah friends?
“Some time later someone in my party suggested it was time to cut our ties with UK Labour, but I’m of the opinion there are UK Labour MPs putting up a fight against anti-Semitic elements within their party, so we should encourage that and keep communication lines open.
“But we should not be silent.”
Biran’s visit also had a very personal element.
Last Tuesday, she became the first member of her family to visit the grave of her great-grandfather Harry Kurzki at Rookwood Cemetery.
Biran said Kurzki became lost from the rest of the family, and his grave’s location was unknown for decades until a response to an advertisement in The AJN led to a breakthrough.
“Visiting the grave is an emotional thing, because blood is blood,” Biran said.
During her stay, Biran also spoke at Emanuel Synagogue at an event hosted by Habonim Dror and Netzer Sydney, and was special guest at a Labor Israel Action Committee function.
SHANE DESIATNIK
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