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.
The Middle East, more particularly the Israel-Palestinian conflict, is a subject where few believers listen to arguments from the other side.
The Middle East, more particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is a subject about which few believers listen to arguments from the other side. With so vexed an issue, polemics, rhetoric, straw-man arguments and raw emotion cloud debate and reason.
Written by two left-of centre social democrats opposed to the Greater Israel propaganda of the Israeli Right, Mendes and Dyrenfurth have written a well-argued, punchy critique of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.
The ultimate outcome at today’s Conference clinched an important victory – no unilateral recognition of Palestine, as Bob Carr has been campaigning for. Additionally, the resolution called for “a negotiated settlement” – direct negotiations, an important reference point.
Paul Heywood-Smith, Queens Counsel and political autodidact, has written a weak case for Palestine. A much stronger book was there to be written, but the author’s cranky perspective mars his ability to present it.
At the [recent] NSW Labor Conference I spoke in opposition to a motion moved by Bob Carr concerning the Israel-Palestinian Peace Process. The motion lacked balance, was loosely and inappropriately worded, and seemed to equate Israel with Hamas.
A true friend of Israel is a friend of Palestine. Everyone participating at the national ALP Conference this weekend believes that. So why not recognise Palestine now?
Like many supporters of Israel across the Australian community, I am stunned by the erosion of sympathy and advocacy within the Labor Party in defence of the only democratic nation in the Middle East.