Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” is framed as a peace initiative, but it centralises authority, sidelines the vulnerable and rewards coercion. Australia should reject it rather than lend it legitimacy.
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Stuart Rees
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Trump’s ‘Peace Board’ is imperialism in a new suit
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‘Australians for Humanity’ demand the invitation to Israel’s President be withdrawn immediately
The Israel President cannot be welcomed in Australia. The government he represents has been found by the International Court of Justice to have breached international law: the Netanyahu regime has committed a range of international crimes against humanity including war crimes, apartheid, illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing. (more…)
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2025 in Review: Bullies and sycophants, cowardice on high, courage from below
A year defined by bullying power politics, media cowardice and moral failure – alongside rare but vital acts of courage that point to a different future. (more…)
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Australia’s Christmas double standards on Palestine
As Palestinians face another winter of displacement and bombardment, Australia celebrates Christmas while ignoring its own obligations under international law. If recognition of Palestine is to mean anything, the government must act – not look away. (more…)
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BBC and ABC targeted by conservative critics for the wrong reasons
Right-wing critics attack the ABC and BBC, but the real media bias is in ignoring Palestinian voices and defending power.
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Defending the BBC
Legal threats against the BBC over an edited interview highlight that an independent, taxpayer-funded, public broadcaster is anathema to Trump and his administration. (more…)
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Palestine’s future: Australians are outraged
At an Australia-wide webinar on 31 October, David Spratt paid tribute to the late Ali Kazak, Palestine’s first ambassador to Australia. (more…)
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The future of Palestine: What Australia must do
Responding to continuing slaughter in Gaza is a test of Australian politicians and the government’s courage. (more…)
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A century of deceit: Towards a new understanding of the colonisation of Palestine
Political and media commentary on the Hamas killings of October 2023 have been preoccupied with claims that these were not only the worst terrorists but that their actions were without precedent. (more…)
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Recognising Palestine a long overdue act of courage
At the UN this week, in a long overdue act of courage, the Australian Government has recognised the State of Palestine. (more…)
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Death or displacement, ‘Please no more polite language about the Netanyahu evil’
Gazans experiencing 688 days of bombing and killing now face Netanyahu’s latest final solution the destruction of Gaza City and displacement of the surviving population. (more…)
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Redefining Hamas, pleading for a peace force
In conflicts, unless perception of opponents is re-defined, claims as to who is worthy, who unworthy are repeated and resolution remains elusive. (more…)
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Gaza: Options for urgent action put to parliamentarians
Organising to meet a considerable number of federal parliamentarians in Canberra during a sitting week is never easy but that was the goal of Australians for Humanity desperate for new ways for Australia to contribute to urgent humanitarian action in Gaza. (more…)
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Appeal to Parliamentarians: Resist Israel/US thuggery, be advocates for peace
As though infected by a chronic illness, news of unending death and destruction in Gaza and on the West Bank leaves millions feeling frustrated, angry, despairing and powerless. (more…)
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Spare more than a thought for Iran’s protesters
Members of the National Council of Resistance of Iran ask the world to take notice of impressively brave protests against a cruel and repressive Iranian regime. (more…)
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Suggesting a Nobel for Trump is a Netanyahu obscenity
Intent on stroking one another’s outsize egos, two thugs in the White House smirk at the latest ingratiation-beyond-belief feature of their alliance. (more…)
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Courage needs to be shown in politics – Israel is no longer above the law
In the past weeks, an estimated 500 more Gazans have been killed, bombed out of existence by the IDF or killed while queuing for food. (more…)
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A naval force to escort humanitarian aid is an act of peace
In honour of a brave Gazan fisherwoman Madleen Kulab, the international aid boat of the same name was turned back to an Israeli port. (more…)
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A sign of hope: UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay to receive 2025 Sydney Peace Prize
The Sydney Prize jury has announced the choice of UN High Commissioner Judge Navi Pillay as the recipient of the 2025 Sydney Peace Prize. The jury’s rationale and citation reads, “Navi Pillay, for a lifetime of advocating for accountability and responsibility in the face of crimes against humanity.” (more…)
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Whether due to indifference or disinterest, the media colludes with Gaza genocide
Clearly, the Australian media has little interest in reporting on any local reaction to the catastrophe in Gaza. (more…)
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Millions want intervention to stop Israeli slaughter of Palestinians
Across Australia, around the globe, millions of people have been outraged by Israeli slaughter in Gaza and on the West Bank, their outrage compounded by despair that Israel has been given a blank cheque to ignore international law, to do what it likes. (more…)
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Inaccessible, indifferent, out of touch? A vice-chancellor’s non-response
In times of age old professionalism, it was reasonable to make requests to leaders of powerful institutions and expect a reply, but in times unduly influenced by the alleged efficiency of managerialism, public interests and requests are too often ignored. (more…)
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Vale Ali Kazak
On Sunday afternoon, we received the very sad news that Ali Kazak has died in Thailand, en route to Palestine. An extraordinary campaigner and shaper of the Palestinian cause for all his almost 80 years, his loss will be sorely felt. Stuart Rees wrote this tribute to Ali for Pearls and Irritations last November. More will follow in coming days. (more…)
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P&I authors expose Israeli atrocities, but with what effect?
In his emotional victory speech after winning the 3 May election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referred to Australian values such as kindness, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong described him as a man of compassion. (more…)
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Silence is no response to slaughter, so at least recognise Palestine
Death, destruction and ethnic cleansing in Gaza and on the West Bank continues. Israeli savagery, lying, and disdain for international law display the depths of inhumanity, but when challenged to show courage by supporting life for Palestinians, the Australian Government remains silent. (more…)
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Institutionalisation: Vice-chancellors’ cowardly collusion with antisemitism lobby
In response to a Senate inquiry into supposed antisemitism on Australian university campuses, the Group of Eight (Go8) vice-chancellors representing the Australian National University, Sydney, Melbourne, Monash, UWA, UNSW, Queensland and Adelaide have produced a definition of antisemitism which is to be enforced on all their respective students and staff. (more…)
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A moral precipice challenge – Vote for humanity
Response to the latest Israeli/US slaughter in Gaza shows the world’s citizens looking into a moral precipice. How will they act? Will they ponder the principles of humanitarian law let alone ideals of a common humanity? (more…)
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Anatomy of a public meeting: genocide a key election issue
Sunday evening in a crowded Glebe Town Hall in Sydney, the audience came to hear speakers address several objectives to “make candidates” attitude to genocide a key election issue, hold politicians accountable for genocide, vote for humanity”. (more…)
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Universalism the panacea for Palestine
Defence of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is a collective responsibility fuelled by commitments to theory and ideology inherent in universalism. In domestic and foreign policies and in the conduct of personal relations, the values associated with universalism concern altruism and inclusiveness, each goal delivered in a spirit of generosity. (more…)
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Moral panics, from Teddy Boys to antisemites
Seventy years ago, British youth, dressed in tight jeans, pointed winkle picker shoes and with greasy duck’s arse haircuts, gathered on the beaches of seaside towns, usually well know for their Victorian piers. By adding rock’n roll music to their unusual appearance, the young Teddy Boys, also referred to as ‘Folk Devils’ added a colourful but challenging culture to a dour post-war Britain. (more…)