PM Transcripts

E. O. E. PROOF ONLY
PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT OF SPEECH AT TEI* UiTLE BETH ISRAEL 8 MAY 1983
It is appropriate that I should say to you at this first
opportunity I have had of being with such a representative
gathering of the Jewish community, to affirm to you the
statement in unequivocal terms that the deference that my
Government has to the integrity and security of the State of
Israel. That the State of Israel is one
in many ways for a long period of time the greatest commitinien:
integrity remains in time the responsibility of the Government
of this country. We recognise that not only is the well-being
of the people of Israel involved in the maintenance of * the
integrity and security of that State, but that indeed the very
peace of the world is inextricably bound up with ensuring that
we do secure a just and lasting peace in that area of the world.
That, as we all know, is going to require adjustments and
concessions on the part of others and we must all, as my
Government will, pledge our best endeavours to ensuring that we
do achieve in that coveted area of the world such a just,
enduring, lasting peace within the central . Middle East..
of the integrity of the State of Israel. That is, if you
appreciate the very keen sense of the great difference, the
great sacrifices that the people of your community face
religiously within this country and internationally..
deep understanding of what that has meant to all of you, what
it has meant financially, what it has meant in terms of the
other sorts of sacrifices that you have had to make throughout
your lives and throughout the lives of those generations in your
community that have gone before you, that I am very, very proud
to be associated with your Labour Centre and particularly as it
has so much emphasis on the needs of our young people because
it is essential, I think, to Australia for a
new understanding as we move now towards the end of this century,
towards the outset of the 21st Century. It is imperative that
we have, in the minds of our young people, a sense
a commitment to* the day to day
our society in so many ways is under pressure. Thlere is,
in the minds of our young people
and an understanding . in our sociezy
It is important, therefore, that a community like your o-wn
which has about the important basic principles
necessary for a just and'good) s-ociety. All of you can
play your part by concentrating on these young people to give
them that same sense of understanding so that they will have a
committal to the values that are so important.