While the palestinians are promising to honor Jacques Chirac, we are set to honor a real leader, and not just with a street name.
Prime Minister John Howard will be honoured with a Jewish National Fund (JNF) forest in his name at a gala dinner in Melbourne next month.
To be named the John Howard Negev Forest, the forest will be located in Israel’s Negev region, the focus of the JNF’s Negev Now campaign.
Howard is expected to personally accept the honour at the fundraiser for JNF’s Victorian branch at Crown Palladium on May 20, which will also feature Lebanese-born Middle East commentator Brigitte Gabriel.
JNF Victorian president Tom Borsky praised the Howard Government for its “genuine commitment and friendship towards the Jewish community”.
“We are privileged to create a perpetual tribute to him [John Howard] through the establishment of this forest.”
The Howard forest will become the third such tribute paid to an Australian PM. Forests have also recognised Sir Robert Menzies and Bob Hawke, as well as former governor-general Sir Zelman Cowen.
