(2023) Israel and Palestine Justice
Delegates, good people can agree on the spirit of a resolution –like the one before us – even if they disagree on some details. There
Delegates, good people can agree on the spirit of a resolution –like the one before us – even if they disagree on some details. There
Israel is in the midst of unprecedented political turmoil. Three alarms are sounding.
There is a widespread conceit that, because Australian Jewry is largely economically successful, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) can write them off as unlikely supporters of progressive candidates in elections. This is egregious nonsense — for at least four reasons.
Anyone who thrived in the Bear Pit of the NSW Parliament, where the finer points of civil debating etiquette are not rigorously followed, is bound to be colourful in argumentation. Which brings me to Bob Carr’s polemical article ‘Is criticism of Israeli settlement policy anti-Semitic? Israeli nationalists insist it is’ (Pearls and Irritations, June 6).
A community as diverse, educated, and dynamic as Australian Jewry is bound to have a variety of opinions and outlooks.
I cannot imagine anyone in the ALP in 2021 who today does not hope for the emergence of a Palestinian state. How this outcome might occur is where differences emerge.
The relentless demonising and delegitimising of Israel continues apace. With so many references in the media, in hard and far-Left publications, on university campuses and in public discourse generally, to Israel’s alleged practice of apartheid, it is timely to evaluate the substance of the claim, assess the origin of the slur, and consider whether there is any merit in the use of the word.
Mr Fry-Kontaxis thinks me both diabolically clever to “rehash” “Israeli talking points” and to simultaneously repeat Hamas propaganda about their recent involvement at the Israel/Gaza barrier. He also detects my “long history of justifying the deaths of Arab victims of Israeli violence, and his repeated blame of those Arab victims.” How sad.
There is neither joy nor bright prospects from any of the recent violence and suffering in Gaza. The tragic loss of life in May naturally focuses attention on Australia’s policy concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict.
I am very pleased to welcome everybody to this final session of the Israel-Australia-UK Leadership Dialogue. We have an impressive panel of speakers, each of whom will speak briefly and then we will turn this symposium over to the participants in the Dialogue for comments and questions.