'Never again' not only for Jews, but for Palestinians and all humanity
John Menadue

'Never again' not only for Jews, but for Palestinians and all humanity

israel-palestine politics

Israel has no right of self-defence against resistance in lands that are illegally occupied.

Message from the editor
Catriona Jackson

Message from the editor

I’ll walk down to the local primary school next Saturday and cast my vote, but I will be in a minority. Most of my kids and both my parents would have already cast their ballots, along with two-thirds of the rest of the community.

Quite a remarkable election campaign
John Warhurst

Quite a remarkable election campaign

We still cannot feel confident in predicting the outcome of this 2025 election. But what we can confidently say is that it has been a quite remarkable campaign, shaped by external events in unpredictable ways.


John Menadue's book on Israel's war against Gaza

Israel's war against Gaza

Media coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023 has spread a series of lies propagated by Israel and the United States. This publication presents information, analysis, clarification, views and perspectives largely unavailable in mainstream media in Australia and elsewhere.

Download the PDF

A minority Labor Government's policy agenda – Part 2
Michael Keating

A minority Labor Government's policy agenda – Part 2

In this second part of this article, discussing the possible policy agenda for a minority Labor Government, the focus is on taxation and how to improve productivity – issues that are most difficult to agree on.

A hillbilly White House and the wisdom of peasants
Richard Cullen

A hillbilly White House and the wisdom of peasants

In 2016, US Vice-President J.D. Vance published a best-selling memoir titled Hillbilly Elegy. Curiously, he explained on the Fox News network recently that China’s pivotal influence on American consumption was due to the US borrowing “money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture” (YouTube link here). Let’s consider the sort of individuals in question.

The resilience of Gazan writing: Resisting temporal closure
Norman Saadi Nikro

The resilience of Gazan writing: Resisting temporal closure

One particular aspect of Palestinian resilience during Israel’s ongoing besiegement and genocide in the Gaza Strip concerns a prodigious amount of creative writing that, besides bearing witness to circumstance and personal experience, engages cultural resistance.

A couple of seats that could go against the anti-Dutton grain
Andrew Fraser

A couple of seats that could go against the anti-Dutton grain

“The people have spoken.” “We have a clear mandate.” Really? In many cases, like the landslides of 1975 and 1996, the above quotes are undoubtedly true. But in others, like 1984 and 1998, I’m not so sure.

Canada’s Asian dream after America First
Paul Evans

Canada’s Asian dream after America First

In the six months since US President Donald Trump’s re-election, the relentless assault on core democratic principles at home and international institutions and norms has turned the world upside down and inside out for the United States, its friends, allies and adversaries.

What to do with an ex-president?
Paul Nicoll

What to do with an ex-president?

In an imaginary situation, members of Australia’s political and miliary elite were in court at the same time defending themselves against allegations of an attempted military coup.

Chinese president rallies neighbours as US tariffs imposed
Xu Yawen

Chinese president rallies neighbours as US tariffs imposed

From 14 to 18 April, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia conveyed a clear message: China’s engagement with Southeast Asia is rooted not merely in trade and infrastructure, but also mutual respect, strategic trust, and a shared vision for regional stability and prosperity.

If I were defence minister...
Mike Gilligan

If I were defence minister...

On becoming Australia’s new defence minister, I will advise cabinet at its first meeting that our nation is at a perilous, strategic crossroad.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

'Never again' not only for Jews, but for Palestinians and all humanity
John Menadue

'Never again' not only for Jews, but for Palestinians and all humanity

Israel has no right of self-defence against resistance in lands that are illegally occupied.

The resilience of Gazan writing: Resisting temporal closure
Norman Saadi Nikro

The resilience of Gazan writing: Resisting temporal closure

One particular aspect of Palestinian resilience during Israel’s ongoing besiegement and genocide in the Gaza Strip concerns a prodigious amount of creative writing that, besides bearing witness to circumstance and personal experience, engages cultural resistance.

Vote for humanity: Caring for Palestine
Margaret Reynolds

Vote for humanity: Caring for Palestine

As Australians hear the repetitive, carefully scripted announcements of the two major parties, voters are turning away from the blatant bribery of millions of dollars for marginal electorates and personal promises of tax cuts and cheaper petrol.

On ‘moral panic’ and the courage to speak: The West’s silence on Gaza
Ilan Pappé

On ‘moral panic’ and the courage to speak: The West’s silence on Gaza

Palestinians do not have the luxury to allow Western moral panic to have its say or impact. Not caving in to this panic is one small, but important, step in building a global Palestine network that is urgently needed.

If Einstein spoke today, he would be accused of antisemitism
Aisya A. Zaharin

If Einstein spoke today, he would be accused of antisemitism

In 1948, as the foundations of the Israeli state were being laid upon the ruins of hundreds of Palestinian villages, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to the American Friends of the Fighters for the Freedom of Israel, condemning the growing Zionist militancy within the settler Jewish community.

Even in sickness, Pope Francis reached out to Gaza's Christians
Aaron Boxerman

Even in sickness, Pope Francis reached out to Gaza's Christians

For months, the pontiff spoke by telephone almost every night with people sheltering in a Catholic church in the battered enclave, a ritual he tried to keep up in the hospital.

The uniform public utterances of our days
Sawsan Madina

The uniform public utterances of our days

British scholar Leonard Schapiro, writing on Stalinism, observed that “the true object of propaganda is neither to convince nor even to persuade. But to produce a uniform pattern of public utterances in which the first trace of unorthodox thought reveals itself as a jarring dissonance. And it seems that in the current sanctioned discourse, the jarring dissonance is speaking up against a genocide streamed live on our phones.

Pope Francis dies at 88 after final appeal for Gaza ceasefire
Common Dreams

Pope Francis dies at 88 after final appeal for Gaza ceasefire

Will the millions who will mourn his death these coming days respect this wish of his? Will they care for Gazans and Palestinians the way he did?


John Menadue

Support our independent media with your donation

Pearls and Irritations leads the way in raising and analysing vital issues often neglected in mainstream media. Your contribution supports our independence and quality commentary on matters importance to Australia and our region.

Donate


Latest on China

A hillbilly White House and the wisdom of peasants
Richard Cullen

A hillbilly White House and the wisdom of peasants

china politics usa

In 2016, US Vice-President J.D. Vance published a best-selling memoir titled Hillbilly Elegy. Curiously, he explained on the Fox News network recently that China’s pivotal influence on American consumption was due to the US borrowing “money from Chinese peasants to buy the things those Chinese peasants manufacture” (YouTube link here). Let’s consider the sort of individuals in question.

Chinese president rallies neighbours as US tariffs imposed
Xu Yawen

Chinese president rallies neighbours as US tariffs imposed

From 14 to 18 April, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia conveyed a clear message: China’s engagement with Southeast Asia is rooted not merely in trade and infrastructure, but also mutual respect, strategic trust, and a shared vision for regional stability and prosperity.

Election looms, time to ramp up the China scare campaign: Anti-China Media Watch
Marcus Reubenstein

Election looms, time to ramp up the China scare campaign: Anti-China Media Watch

Hampered by an underwhelming election campaign — where the Labor/LNP “uniparty” faces the harsh reality that the punters don’t think China is about to invade Australia — Murdoch media is going all out to put those commie bastards front and centre. There’s the inconvenient truth that the Australian military is gearing up to hit China with a barrage of US-made missiles; the Chinese Communist Party is meddling in the affairs of the Catholic Church; and a 60 Minutes report tells us Barbie has fallen victim to the Chinese.


More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

World trade rules need fixing

Neil Hauxwell — Moe Victoria

Freer world trade and rules to support it have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of dire poverty on the Asian side of the Pacific. Freer trade has benefitted millions of Australians by way of cheaper prices, but it has also reinforced the view that the planet’s resources are unlimited, and we have some sort of human right to consume far more than other people. On a planet with eight billion others, we are resource greedy in our energy use, in our habitual waste of materials, and in our ability to look the other way when natural environments...
Lest we forget to remember

John Mosig — Kew, Victoria

Douglas Newton’s poignant words speak to the truth of war: it’s the political leaders who declare it and it’s the people who die and suffer as a consequence. I know ANZAC is special to Australians, but I stopped going to the dawn service when I found myself standing behind a bunch of teenage boys wearing Australian flags as superman capes. They were at a ceremony honouring those who fell fighting against the very nationalism they were personifying. As a multicultural society, I’d like to see the fallen of all nations respected in the march, including those against whom...
Some further funds for schools

K M — Canberra

If I were the relevant minister, I would make the tax-deductible donations to schools' building and library funds be put into a central pot to be shared equally between all schools around Australia. Otherwise, end the tax-deductibility of such donations. Why should private schools' extravagant and lavish facilities essentially be subsidised by taxpayers (through foregone revenue) while public schools have barely serviceable ones? There's nothing stopping private school parents and alumni donating to upgrade their schools' facilities – just not at the opportunity cost of everyone else.
Clarity in delegations of government power

Geoff Taylor — Perth

May I add a thought to Andrew Podger’s suggestions? A number of federal public servants exercise enormous power over us as their fellow citizens. This power is often delegated, by a minister, or a more senior public servant. So there should be an easily accessible website which contains a full list of current delegations, the name of the delegate, the start and end date of the power, and the legal extent of the power. After the Scott Morrison multiple ministry episode, the same should apply to the certificates of ministerial appointment issued by the governor-general. Does the legal...



Latest from Al Jazeera

Vatican says conclave to elect new pope to begin on May 7
A total of 135 cardinals from across the world, all below the age of 80, are eligible to take part in the secret vote.
Kashmir attack: Why Pakistan’s threat to suspend Simla Agreement matters
Analysts believe a Pakistani pullout from the Simla Agreement could dismantle key diplomatic safeguards with India.
ICJ opens hearings on Israeli obligations on Gaza aid
Palestinian envoy tells court aid used as 'weapon of war'; Israeli minister condemns 'delegitimisation' of his country.
Canada election 2025: What’s at stake, polls and when to expect results
Millions of Canadians head to the polls to elect a new government in the shadow of concerns over Trump's tariff regime.
Iran accuses Israel of seeking to disrupt nuclear talks with US
Israel reiterates demand Iran's nuclear programme be dismantled after Tehran and Washington report positive third round.
Russia declares unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for May 8-10
This is a breaking news story, more details to follow.