週二下午總理阿爾巴尼斯宣佈因著伊朗政府策動了至少在雪梨及墨爾本兩宗襲擊猶太人會堂事件, 構成對澳洲社會凝聚力的破壞, 為表示絕不能容忍這些暴力行動, 決定驅逐伊朗駐澳洲大使及三名官員, 並已召回澳洲駐德克蘭大使館外交人員。澳洲安全情報局長表示, 伊斯蘭革命衛隊組織了這些暴力行動, 總理阿爾巴尼斯表示, 澳洲把革命衛隊定性為恐怖主義組織。

總理公佈這決定後, 反對黨領袖蘇珊蕾、新州州長Chris Minns及維州州長Jacinta Allan 即時表示支持總理作出果斷決定。

澳洲移民來自全球不同國家, 一直以來都有一些國家政府,認為要在全球管控來自本國的僑民, 因此會用不同途徑在澳洲去影響這些僑民社區。近年最常見到的是不同移民社區會接收到來自原居地的虛假資訊, 或是影響他們去參與原居地的政治, 也有一些國家會對在澳洲僑民生活進行干預。伊朗的反猶太活動, 近年來在包括澳洲在內的西方國家活躍, 顯示了像伊朗的這些國家也正在擴大在本國以外的戰線。阿爾巴尼斯總理表示, 這些活動破壞了澳洲多元文化社區的凝聚力, 削弱社會的和諧, 是澳洲政府所不能容忍的。

最近大批澳洲人進行遊行, 表達了對以色列攻擊加沙及以饑餓等不人道手段來驅趕巴勒斯坦人離開的不滿。外長黃英賢更呼籲以色列政府要放棄佔領加沙的政策, 避色對巴勒斯坦人進行種放滅絕。這些都顯示澳洲社會內正在煽起一股反猶太主義情緒。阿爾巴尼斯總理對伊朗政府在其中的角色, 表達了關注。

是的, 在世界紛亂之時, 我想起聖法蘭西斯的《和平之子禱文》, 值得我們深思。

主啊！使我做祢和平之子；

在仇恨之處，播下愛；

在傷害之處，播下寬恕；

在懷疑之處，播下信心；

在絕望之處，播下盼望；

在幽暗之處，播下光明；

在憂愁之處，播下歡愉。

主啊！使我少為自己求；

少求愛，但求全心付出愛；

少求得安慰，但求安慰人；

少求被瞭解，但求多瞭解人 ；

因為在捨去時，我們有所得；

在赦免時，我們便蒙赦免；

在死亡時，我們便得重生，進入永恆。

阿們。

周偉文, 社長

Be a Person of Peace 

On Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that due to the Iranian government orchestrating at least two attacks on Jewish synagogues in Sydney and Melbourne—acts which undermine social cohesion in Australia—the country has decided to expel Iran’s ambassador and three other officials. Australia has also recalled its diplomatic staff from its embassy in Tehran. The head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was behind these violent acts. Prime Minister Albanese added that Australia now designates the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. 

After the Prime Minister’s announcement, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan all immediately expressed their support for the decisive action.

 Australia is a nation of immigrants from all over the world. There have long been foreign governments seeking to control their overseas diaspora, using various methods to influence immigrant communities. In recent years, it has become common for these communities to receive disinformation from their countries of origin or be influenced to engage in the politics of their homeland. Some governments even interfere with the everyday lives of diaspora in Australia. Anti-Semitic activities originating from Iran have become increasingly active in Western countries, including Australia, indicating an expansion of Iran’s operations beyond its borders. Prime Minister Albanese stated that such actions undermine the cohesion of Australia’s multicultural society and threaten social harmony—something the Australian government cannot tolerate.

Recently, many Australians have taken to the streets to protest against Israel’s attacks on Gaza, expressing outrage over the use of inhumane tactics such as starvation to force Palestinians from their homes. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also called on the Israeli government to abandon its policy of occupying Gaza and to avoid committing acts of genocide against the Palestinian people. These developments reveal a growing wave of anti-Semitism within Australian society. Prime Minister Albanese voiced concern about the Iranian government’s role and involvement. 

 In these troubled times around the world, I am reminded of the Prayer of Saint Francis, a reflection truly worth contemplating: 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offence, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Lord, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in forgiving that one is forgiven,
it is in dying that one awakens to eternal life. Amen!

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher