Comments on: Australian government out of step with public opinion on Israel/Palestine

By: Kevin Herbert

Kevin Herbert — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:59:06 +0000

Gillard’s unqualified support for the pariah State of Israel will be a decision she regrets for a very long time, as will Rudd.

Israel maintains an intellectually & morally bankrupt government. This is not in dispute throughout the developed world in particular. Israel’s corruption of the democratic parliamentary process via catering to right wing religious extremists, has seen it lurch from one crisis to another.

Groups such at the Australia/Israel Cultural Exchange (AICE) are a weak attempt to paper over the fact that the Israeli political system is rotting from the inside out. Even the right wing Zionist Aussie Isi Liebler has made that call in his Jerusalem Post column/rant, as have many pro Israel US commentators

A new arts based movement in support of the Palestinian cause will be announced soon as a counter to the Zionist pap offered by AICE, chaired by Albert Dadon who will lead Gillard et al on the Israeli junket. It’s sad to see an Australian political party trade its integrity for the chance of a seat on the UN Security Council, as stated by Peter Dowding in a recent Crikey article.

It’s no surprise to see the widely discredited AIPAC apologist Bren Carlill take Anthony Loewenstein, in today’s Crikey Comment section, to task over a moot technical inaccuracy concerning Israel’s recognition. The cupboard is bare even at AIPAC when it comes to defending Israel’s many acts of terrorism & apartheid against those Palestinians whose lands they have illegally occupied since 1967.

Finally, don’t you just admire the reasoning of Walter Slurry above ie; its OK for Israel to bomb civilians & kill thousands, because other countries do it.

By: AR

AR — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:16:48 +0000

Go back to basics - even in the 19thC it was a home for Jews escaping eroupean anti Semetism. Most definitelt NOT a JEWISH state. Te early Zionists were secular, a bit of a stretch for raving amerikan fundies, but the kibbutzim were socialism in action. Pity they disappeared int he rush for luzury. The rest is, easily accessed,l history. Not pretty.

By: Beverley Kilsby

Beverley Kilsby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:17:26 +0000

This is Beverley , finishing of my remarks, I got cut of, I wanted to say do some hard study, about the country,

By: Beverley Kilsby

Beverley Kilsby — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:59:49 +0000

I now think after reading these comments about Israel , who ever is in a high position and want to express their views on the subject they learn something about the history and culture of the country, not just now but in the past, in other words do some hard

By: Walter Slurry

Walter Slurry — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:54:21 +0000

I never know whether my old mate Antony is serious or just writes this type of gumff to create more interest in his novel.

My problem with lines like this - “Every parliamentarian ought to think seriously about the moral implications of Australia normalising relations with a state that is still under investigation for war crimes …” - is it kinda leaves our relationship with countries like China a bit cloudy … China being a most repressive regime (see today’s Crikey) with a well documented history of murder, oppression & torture. So why are we trading with them and sending ministers over every other day?

According to Antony, Gillard et al shouldn’t visit Israel because it is “under investigation..” If we apply this logic to all our trading partners, then let’s get out the latest Amnesty report and start to place an ‘X’ next to those who transgress and cut off all trade and diplomatic visits …. hang on, isn’t Australia on that list too after the NT Intervention and Macklin’s continual racist policies…?

So who do we trade and visit Antony? China, South Africa? Saudi Arabia? Iran? Burma? Pakistan? Russia?

Just asking Antony, just asking….