Israeli Ambassador responds after arson attack on Melbourne Synagogue

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon urges Australia to evaluate its values. He says that amping up of security measures is like “offering a painkiller to a seriously ill person.”

Transcript

00:00You need to ask Australians, what are the values that we believe in?

00:06What are the values that we should follow?

00:09Because it has a lot to do with you, not with me.

00:12I'm representing the state of Israel and the event took place here in Melbourne as it happened

00:17just two days ago in Sydney in front of the Great Synagogue and before that in Caulfield.

00:24So we are talking about the values that you expect Australians to follow, not my own values.

00:29And for me it's clear that everyone should have the right to worship his own religion,

00:36own beliefs, as long as they also respect others.

00:40Well at the moment the enhancement of security measures are important, but for me, in my

00:48view, it's not the answer.

00:50It's like, and I mentioned it before, it's like offering a painkiller to a seriously

00:55ill person.

00:57I need that it's very important to make sure that Australians, no matter which faith they

01:04are following and which faith they are from, will be able to worship, to study, to play

01:11and feel secure and safe.

Category

Transcript

Recommended