The recent Robert Gregory blog in Australian Jewish News demands a response. (more…)
Paul Heywood-Smith
-
Antisemitism and the IHRA definition
In a positive development, the University of Adelaide has rejected the adoption of the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism, because to adopt it would have been potentially counter to “the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech”, according to the University Council. (more…)
-
FOI exposes Australia’s attempts to protect Israel on apartheid status
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has asserted that Australia does not accept that Israel is an apartheid State. Freedom of information (FOI) documents have exposed that this position is not based on DFAT legal advice. The concerns of many Australians that their government, through trade and other dealings, or by even visiting Israel, might be making them an accomplice in a crime against humanity have been left unaddressed in order to protect Israel. (more…)
-
Australia condemns brazen US blockade of Cuba in UNGA vote
Australia should be proud of its vote in the General Assembly in November last year to condemn the ongoing US blockade of Cuba.
-
Why did Australia oppose an ICJ advisory opinion on Israeli settlements?
Surely the Australian people are entitled to an explanation as to why in December last year the government voted against an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestine. (more…)
-
Australia’s DFAT blocks FOI request on Israel apartheid status
In November 2022, I brought a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the Australian Government to disclose the basis of its non-acceptance of the reports that apartheid exists in Israel. Last week, DFAT rejected the request on the risible basis that to process it would “unreasonably divert the department’s resources.” (more…)
-
Ukraine: The other side of the story
It appears that wherever one looks or reads there are calls for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine: no other event is called for; in other words, capitulation by Russia. (more…)
-
Melissa Parke accepts the Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize
The Jerusalem Peace Prize, awarded this year on 4th November in Melbourne, is an initiative of Australians for Palestine and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network. (more…)
-
Australia must clarify Israel’s status as an Apartheid state
I refer to my earlier article on Israel and Apartheid. The article made the clear assertion that Israel is an apartheid state and has been found to be such by internationally respected bodies, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International. (more…)
-
Author of The Australian’s editorial on Jerusalem: Identify yourself and defend your views
The Editorial appearing in The Australian entitled “Labor’s Israel decision gets worse” on the 21st of October demands an answer. The author of the Editorial is not identified but I would invite that person to identify himself. (more…)
-
Australia must overturn its listing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation
In or about October 2021 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) – under the previous government – listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code. (more…)
-
Zionism, anti-semitism and the British Labour Party
Last week Ali Kazak re-published an article,
The article was said to be by Yvonne Ridley and dated 23.12.2021. It addressed the prospect of “(o)ne 82-year-old woman in Britain…(being) expelled from the Labour Party having been accused of posting “anti-Semitic” views on social networks”. “Diana Neslen, though, is Jewish”. The ‘views’ essentially questioned Zionism, asserting that it was based on lies. (more…)
-
Murdoch v Crikey
The writer is a retired, or close to retired, barrister who practiced in the area of defamation. He asks: are we to sit back and expect to be entertained for the next one to two years whilst the Federal Court discharges its duty to these litigants? Subject to the qualifications below, he thinks that it is unlikely. (more…)
-
Defamation reform
A meeting of Attorneys-General was convened on 12 August in Melbourne and chaired by Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC. (more…)
-
South Australia and antisemitism
On October 17 last year Pearls & Irritations published a piece by me entitled “Labor’s British and Australian leaders are out of step with progressive opinion on Israel”. I mused, inter alia, over the ALP continuing, post-election, and if successful, “to tow the Israeli-lobby line”. (more…)
-
There is nothing complicated in the truths about Israel regarding Palestine
Michael Easson’s article in Friday’s (June 3) Pearls & Irritations warrants a response. Entitled “The ‘Israeli lobby’ mischaracterises the diverse Australian Jewish Community”, the piece attacks Bob Carr’s comments on the Israeli lobby in Australia in an earlier piece. Easson presents a litany of misleading concepts designed to do only one thing – pull the wool over the eyes of the Australian public. (more…)
-
Major parties scorecard on Palestine
In late March a YouGov poll was conducted on the topic of the Australian public’s attitude on the Palestine issue. The poll was commissioned by APAN (Australian Palestine Advocacy Network) and AFOPA (Australian Friends of Palestine Association). The poll’s results suggested that the Government was out of touch with Australians on the issue. In particular, the Government’s approach to the Occupied Palestinian Territories was considered to be simply wrong. Concerns centered around illegal Jewish settlements, apartheid, recognition of Palestine, and human rights. (more…)
-
Reactionary succession: Peter Dutton, Australia’s new opposition leader
An inevitable consequence of the loss of the election by the Liberal National Coalition has been the resignation of the former PM as the leader of the Liberal Party. Peter Dutton has replaced Scott Morrison as leader of the Liberal Party, unopposed. (more…)
-
Israel and apartheid
Readers will be aware that earlier this year Amnesty International released a report which made a determination that Israel was an apartheid State. The report was titled ‘Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians, a Cruel System of Domination and a Crime Against Humanity’. (more…)
-
It’s time to test political candidates on Israel and Palestine
Australians must ask themselves if, given the Coalition and Labor’s support of Israel, they can vote for either of the major parties in good conscience.
-
Labor’s British and Australian leaders are out of step with progressive opinion on Israel
Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese express support for Israel while leading parties whose wider membership support the Palestinian cause. It is time for these leaders to back the party rank-and-file. (more…)
-
Australians must ask why we haven’t spoken out on Israeli squatter settlements
Australia ratified the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1958. So why do we question the ICC’s jurisdiction over war crimes committed in Palestinian territories?
