Mark Leibler on his lobbying power
Mark Leibler

Mark Leibler on his lobbying power

israel-palestine media politics

In a speech he delivered back in 2018, Mark Leibler lays out how he exerts influence, from trying to block Bob Carr's efforts on recognition of a Palestinian State to watching ABC correspondent Sophie McNeill in order to change her coverage of the Middle East.

Message from the editor
Catriona Jackson

Message from the editor

Welcome to a new week, a new pope, a new Cabinet and a new Opposition Leader. And for the first time, there are at least 57% women in the ALP Caucus and record numbers of women across the Federal Parliament.

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption
Alex Lo

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption

Rather than left- or right-leaning political parties, citizens in Singapore, Australia and Canada chose steady hands to navigate geopolitical turbulence.


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

Can Albanese resist the temptation to fall for Trump’s flattery?
Paul Begley

Can Albanese resist the temptation to fall for Trump’s flattery?

Without wishing to rain on the Australian Labor Party’s victory parade, when our prime minister was congratulated and praised by Donald Trump the day after Labor won the 2025 federal election, alarm bells should have been ringing to alert his advisers.

Critical minerals offer a path to check US unilateralism
Ken Heydon

Critical minerals offer a path to check US unilateralism

Trumpian trade policy promises a period of spasmodic aggression and persisting uncertainty.

Recognising and embracing AI in research
Namesh Killemsetty,  Prachi Bansal

Recognising and embracing AI in research

Artificial intelligence and human endeavour can work together in harmony to reshape scholarly work.

In memory of the Marshall Plan – a primer for Gen Z
Gordon Gregory

In memory of the Marshall Plan – a primer for Gen Z

The attack on Pearl Harbour led to an enormous volume of United States resources being committed to the war against Nazi Germany.

The New Pope – Leo XIV
Paul Collins

The New Pope – Leo XIV

I thought it might be third time lucky, but I was wrong again. I backed the wrong horse as pope!

Dutton’s election campaign rout lets RBA off the hook
Ross Gittins

Dutton’s election campaign rout lets RBA off the hook

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock must be breathing a quiet sigh of relief now the Albanese Government has been triumphantly returned to office. If you can’t think why she should be relieved, you’re helping make my point.

In the age of the influencer, does the political backing of News Corp matter anymore?
Edward Hurcombe

In the age of the influencer, does the political backing of News Corp matter anymore?

This year’s federal election demonstrated that Australia’s media landscape has changed. Big players are no longer “kingmakers” in politics.

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza
Marjorie Cohn

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza

Thirty-seven states, the UN and international NGOs all condemned Israel’s denial of aid to the starving people of Gaza at the International Court of Justice in the first week of May.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

Mark Leibler on his lobbying power
Mark Leibler

Mark Leibler on his lobbying power

In a speech he delivered back in 2018, Mark Leibler lays out how he exerts influence, from trying to block Bob Carr's efforts on recognition of a Palestinian State to watching ABC correspondent Sophie McNeill in order to change her coverage of the Middle East.

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza
Marjorie Cohn

At the ICJ, only US and Hungary back Israel starving Gaza

Thirty-seven states, the UN and international NGOs all condemned Israel’s denial of aid to the starving people of Gaza at the International Court of Justice in the first week of May.

'This isn't me': Israeli war and healthcare collapse leave Gaza child unrecognisable
Maha Hussaini

'This isn't me': Israeli war and healthcare collapse leave Gaza child unrecognisable

Under a tightening Israeli siege, Palestinian girl Rahaf Ayyad struggles with physical and emotional changes, as her mother fights for answers.

Aid to Gaza: Moral and political dilemmas for Australia
Bob Bowker

Aid to Gaza: Moral and political dilemmas for Australia

Amidst preparations for a renewed assault intended to allow permanent Israeli occupation of Gaza, Israel and the United States are also about to establish a mechanism through which humanitarian aid will henceforth be distributed exclusively by private firms protected by the Israeli military.

Re-elected Albanese Govt must condemn Israel's brutality and cut ties
Jewish Council of Australia

Re-elected Albanese Govt must condemn Israel's brutality and cut ties

On 5 May, the Israeli Parliament approved plans to annex and occupy Gaza. These plans have been discussed for months. This is a blatant mission to ethnically cleanse Gaza, advancing Israel’s colonial intentions to take over the territory and rid it of Palestinians.

Zionist lawfare comes for Australian journalist
Michelle Berkon

Zionist lawfare comes for Australian journalist

The Zionist federation of Australia  should be recognised as a duplicitous and malicious actor in Australian society and politics.

Mainstream media and distorted Palestine reporting
Pearls and Irritations

Mainstream media and distorted Palestine reporting

Australia’s  mainstream media have ignored and distorted the genocide in Palestine. A recent Australians for Humanity forum, chaired by former SBS newsreader Mary Kostakidis, and featuring Margaret Reynolds, Stuart Rees and Peter Slezak, tackled the issues and discussed what needs to be done.

Judaism and Zionism are not the same
Sara Dowse

Judaism and Zionism are not the same

No doubt about it. We live in a topsy-turvy world. How Kafkaesque can it get, when some of Zionism’s most fervent supporters have been politicians like Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton or — God help us — the Mad King of Mar-a-Lago?


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.

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Latest on China

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption
Alex Lo

Shell-shocked voters of US allies choose stability over disruption

china politics world

Rather than left- or right-leaning political parties, citizens in Singapore, Australia and Canada chose steady hands to navigate geopolitical turbulence.

China touts new law as foundation for private sector growth
Sylvia Ma,  Ji Siqi

China touts new law as foundation for private sector growth

A week after the passage of a law on China’s private economy, officials said the bill would unleash the potential of the non-state sector.

Four World War II myths: Ignoring China, downplaying Russia’s role
Wang Wen

Four World War II myths: Ignoring China, downplaying Russia’s role

As the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II approaches in 2025, the vital contributions of China and Russia remain largely overlooked by the West, just as they have always been.


More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

Very helpful interpretation of the steady-state economy

Len Puglisi — 1 Balmoral Court Burwood East

Thank you to Mark Diesendorf for this very helpful piece. It stands as a clarification of many of the misunderstandings and poor interpretations of SSE in Daniel Susskind's recent (2024) book advocating economic growth, Growth- A History and A Reckoning.
The leopard can’t change its spots

Fiona Colin — Melbourne

As Ross Gittens colourfully describes, the Coalition “is like that person driving a Holden Commodore”. Gender, age and the small matter of climate change should be crucial concerns for any party. Yet Liberal values remain the same: the party “limits its intrusion into people’s lives”, is for lower taxes and keeps the nation “secure and safe” (Christopher Pyne, The Age, 7 May). And therein lies a problem: faced with the existential crisis of climate change, governments need to be at the centre of both our energy transformation and the mitigation strategies when disasters inevitably arrive. Pyne suggested that “For...
Essential clarity from Sara Dowse

Stephanie Dowrick — Darwin 0800, NT

Sara Dowse's article is to be treasured. Please read and absorb it (and the writer's courage as well as clarity). Don't stop there, though. If each of us makes it our business to send it on, either through social media or via email, to at least 10 other people, we will have contributed something toward pushing back the relentless propaganda that is suffocating debate, silencing dissent, and excusing the grotesque elimination of the Palestinian people. Zionism is not Judaism, nor vice versa. Refuting Zionism and its supremacist claims is not antisemitic. It is an assertion of...
Tim Beal's articles in need of corrections

Craig Thomas — North Sydney

Tim Beal has had a number of articles republished here, wherein he attempts to propagate pro-Kremlin disinformation regarding the North Korean troops who have been fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine. Given that Russia recently admitted the North Korean involvement is true, should Beal not be asked to issue an apology and should his articles not be corrected to reflect the fact that his rhetoric appears to not be guided by the facts? Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, has said. I want to point out the participation of servicemen from...



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