Welcome Ambassador Newman
Over 80 participants including Christian Zionist Leaders, Pastors and Church representatives of different denominations, met Israel’s new Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ambassador Hillel Newman, in an online gathering earlier in March 2026.
ICEJ Australia was honoured to host and warmly welcome the Ambassador in his second week in office. I was privileged to introduce His Excellency to such an inspirational group of Christian leaders, knowing instantly after we met in person in Israel prior to his appointment that interacting with Christian communities is close to his heart.
I know his warm sincerity will go far as we work together to bring awareness to churches of our responsibility to stand with Israel and the Jewish people, from whom come the Word of God. His Excellency shared his pathway to becoming an Ambassador for Israel and his experiences in various countries, including his strong track record of building bridges with Christian communities. We can be assured that Australia has received an Ambassador with excellent qualifications who is well able to work with our government in resetting the relationship between our two nations, something he has already begun.
Ambassador Newman gave an important and enlightening update on the war with Iran, as well as the troubling rise of antisemitism in Australia and across the world. He also took some time to answer our questions. Some of the key insights from the Ambassador included:
· It is important for all ‘moderates’ to work together against ‘radicals.’
· It is impossible to completely eradicate antisemitism, but we can call out hypocrisy.
· We need to have a counterattack against a) the haters and b) the naïve.
· A strong counterattack requires strong voices to get the truth out.
· Make known positive information about Israel.
His Excellency also stressed the importance of educating youth, which can include tours to Israel, and expressed his eagerness to engage with Australian Churches across denominations. Please pray for Ambassador Newman as he settles into his work in an Australia which is no longer a welcoming face for Jews.
We have been enlightened, educated and inspired by the preparation, wisdom and courage of our new Israeli Ambassador to Australia in these troubling yet hope filled times.
Help ICEJ provide more urgently needed bomb shelters!
ICEJ Aid’s Nativia Bühler writes, as sirens blare across the nation day and night to warn of incoming missiles from Iran or Hizbullah, one-third of all Israelis have nowhere to run for shelter. That is the harsh reality right now in Israel’s pivotal war against the Iranian regime and its regional proxy militias.
The gaps in protection are most acute in northern and southern Israel, and the Christian Embassy has been working to identify and address these “blind spots.” The need is greatest right now in the Upper Galilee, an area that has come under intense rocket and drone attacks since Hizbullah in Lebanon rejoined the battle two weeks ago.
For Israeli communities close to the border with Lebanon, the time to reach safety is very short. Often, the explosion of a rocket impact comes at the same time as the alarm. Therefore, families in these far northern areas need to spend long periods in public shelters. So we have also been asked to help with mattresses, tables, children’s activities, fans, WIFI, and other items to make the long stays more comfortable.
It’s the relatives of the Jewish people who have again stood aloof. Family, who have denied help when they looked for kindness and sympathy. Who are these indifferent people?
Don’t Miss This Prophetic Insight And Call!
As we follow the dramatic and crucial attacks on Iran’s Regime named ‘Roaring Lion’, Howard Flower ICEJ Director or Aliyah, reveals an amazing paradox and links the Lion’s roar to Aliyah. Hosea 11:10, “They shall walk after the LORD. He will roar like a lion. When He roars, Then His sons shall come trembling from the west.”
The lion, in Hebrew aryeh, is the most powerful and majestic of beasts. In the ancient Near East, it was a symbol of both destructive power and royal authority. In the Hebrew Bible, God is occasionally depicted as a lion, usually in the context of judgment but its use here creates a powerful paradox: the same voice that could inspire terror becomes the unmistakable signal for redemption and gathering.
ICEJ Australia is hosting His Excellency Ambassador Hillel Newman and Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel Sharren Miriam Haskel-Harpaz for this ONLINE event exclusively for our leading supporters of Israel, Christian Pastors and leaders and heads of Christian /Zionist organisations.
The exact time and date is TBC, but if you are interested please register and we will be sending out more information in due course.
We are urgently convening the Jerusalem Summit. Our aim is to equip Christian leaders to understand and respond to modern antisemitism, to restore biblical clarity on Israel, covenant and the Church, and to strengthen the Church’s public and theological witness in a time of confusion.
This summit is intentionally practical. Participants will receive usable teaching from leading theologians and experts around the world, pastoral tools and resources ready for immediate implementation in churches, Bible schools and leadership networks. This is meant to be taught, preached and lived.
The Jerusalem Summit is especially for pastors, theologians, Bible teachers and leaders responsible for doctrine, education and public witness — for all who love Israel and care about the integrity of the Church. I urge you to give the Jerusalem Summit priority.
Resources
Jesma O’Hara is an articulate, informed and an expert communicator. She is a gifted teacher and writer and a leading advocate for Israel, and for Biblical insights into the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith. Her six published books and two leaflet series are excellent teaching tools.
Some of Jesma’s books have been made into eBooks which she has made accessible to ICEJ Australia.
Thank you for your support,
Sarah Way
ICEJ Australia National Director
