Limmud-Oz 2015

In February, Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared that Australia was in a "long-term era of terror". In light of this, his government requested ever furher counter-terrorism measures - extreme legal measures justified only by the threat of terrorism. Since its birth in 1948 Israel has faced an ongoing existential crisis. From external aggression to the threat of terror the State has been in an ongoing state of emergency. If Australia really does face a long-term era of terror it is appropriate to ask: can we learn anything from Israel in terms of ensuring an ongoing commitment to democratic values without compromising security and the safety of the public?