On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish
Dennis Altman

On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish

No political conflict contains as many journalistic minefields as that between Israel and Palestine.

Chris Hedges' Edward Said memorial lecture: ‘Requiem for Gaza’
Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges' Edward Said memorial lecture: ‘Requiem for Gaza’

Journalist Chris Hedges delivers the 2025 Edward Said Memorial Lecture, “Requiem for Gaza” in Adelaide, Australia.

Trump is pushing allies to buy US gas. It’s bad economics – and a catastrophe for the climate
Christoph Nedopil

Trump is pushing allies to buy US gas. It’s bad economics – and a catastrophe for the climate

The price of partnership with the United States has changed. Washington is now using assurances of defence and trade access to pressure allies in Europe and Asia to buy more of its fossil fuels under decades-long contracts.


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The Pope, the media and the 'normalisation' of Trump
Robert Mickens

The Pope, the media and the 'normalisation' of Trump

As world media and leaders normalise US President Donald Trump’s erratic behaviour, Pope Leo XIV must resist and keep his distance.

Readying the north for war
Henry Reynolds

Readying the north for war

Few Australians realise that the tropical north occupies more than 40% of our land mass while holding only 5% of the population. But governments — colonial, state and national — have speculated about its destiny since the middle of the 19th century.

Trump CIA intervention in Venezuela risks another US war of choice, experts warn
Brett Wilkins

Trump CIA intervention in Venezuela risks another US war of choice, experts warn

“Using covert or military measures to destabilise or overthrow regimes reminds us of some of the most notorious episodes in American foreign policy,” said a former adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders.

At best, a respite for Gazans
Peter Rodgers

At best, a respite for Gazans

Reading Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan is like venturing into the world of the eccentric early-twentieth-century British cartoonist, Heath Robinson, who unwittingly lent his name as a descriptor for any “unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance.

China’s FDI, not the BRI, drives a global green transition
Mausam Kumar

China’s FDI, not the BRI, drives a global green transition

Over the past few years, outward Chinese foreign direct investment commitments in green manufacturing have grown rapidly and now dwarf the Marshall Plan in their scale.

Indonesia-Australia economic partnership can power Indo-Pacific resilience
Akhmad Hanan

Indonesia-Australia economic partnership can power Indo-Pacific resilience

Amid intensifying great power rivalry, middle powers like Indonesia and Australia face a critical question – can economic co-operation help them hedge against strategic vulnerability?

The problem of climate change denialism
Chas Keys

The problem of climate change denialism

It is one of the great public debates of our time: is climate change happening or not? If it is, is humanity partly responsible? Either way, is it problematic and, if so, should we act?

After the bombing: The shape of life left by the genocide in Gaza
Refaat Ibrahim

After the bombing: The shape of life left by the genocide in Gaza

Since the ceasefire came into effect, I’ve been searching for a way out of all the horrors that surrounded us in Gaza, but I can’t find one.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish
Dennis Altman

On Israel, Zionism and being Jewish

No political conflict contains as many journalistic minefields as that between Israel and Palestine.

Chris Hedges' Edward Said memorial lecture: ‘Requiem for Gaza’
Chris Hedges

Chris Hedges' Edward Said memorial lecture: ‘Requiem for Gaza’

Journalist Chris Hedges delivers the 2025 Edward Said Memorial Lecture, “Requiem for Gaza” in Adelaide, Australia.

At best, a respite for Gazans
Peter Rodgers

At best, a respite for Gazans

Reading Donald Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan is like venturing into the world of the eccentric early-twentieth-century British cartoonist, Heath Robinson, who unwittingly lent his name as a descriptor for any “unnecessarily complex and implausible contrivance.

After the bombing: The shape of life left by the genocide in Gaza
Refaat Ibrahim

After the bombing: The shape of life left by the genocide in Gaza

Since the ceasefire came into effect, I’ve been searching for a way out of all the horrors that surrounded us in Gaza, but I can’t find one.

The armistice of 1918 and the 'ceasefire' of 2025
Douglas Newton

The armistice of 1918 and the 'ceasefire' of 2025

Remembrance Day is coming. More accurately it is Armistice Day. The armistice between Germany and the Western Powers was signed at Compiègne in France on the morning of 11 November 1918, after four years of war. Sadly, there are heart-chilling parallels to today.

The onus is on Israel and its allies to end the genocide, not their victims
Caitlin Johnstone

The onus is on Israel and its allies to end the genocide, not their victims

It’s actually never legitimate to withhold aid from starving civilians. It was never legitimate at any time.

Gaza has a ceasefire, now Palestine needs self-determination
John Feffer

Gaza has a ceasefire, now Palestine needs self-determination

Whether it’s the Israeli Government, an international peacekeeping force, or a post-conflict reconstruction authority for Gaza chaired (grotesquely) by Donald Trump, the fate of Palestine still rests in the hands of outsiders.

As Gaza starts to rebuild, what lessons can be learned from Nagasaki in 1945?
Gwyn McClelland

As Gaza starts to rebuild, what lessons can be learned from Nagasaki in 1945?

At first, there might not seem to be any immediate similarities between a devastated Nagasaki after the US atomic bombing in 1945 and Gaza today, aside from massive destruction.


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

Latest on China

China’s FDI, not the BRI, drives a global green transition
Mausam Kumar

China’s FDI, not the BRI, drives a global green transition

Over the past few years, outward Chinese foreign direct investment commitments in green manufacturing have grown rapidly and now dwarf the Marshall Plan in their scale.

After decades of struggle, women in China are rewriting their future
Ren Yan

After decades of struggle, women in China are rewriting their future

The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans, but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers.

The West’s crucial strategic failures
Les MacDonald

The West’s crucial strategic failures

The Earth is littered with the ruins of empires that once believed they were eternal. Camille Paglia.


John Menadue

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More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

Lies, damned lies and statistics

Jenny Goldie — Cooma NSW

This is the phrase that sprang to mind on reading Michael Keating's article on migration in Australia. While not really accusing him of lying, I would suggest he is cherry-picking data to support his case, which is basically to maintain high levels of population growth in Australia. According to the latest figures from ABS, population growth was 1.6% in the year to March this year, an increase of 423,400 people, of which net overseas migration was 315,900 or about three quarters. Yes, 1.6% is a lot better than the Third World rates of 2.5% we saw in 2023, but...
It's too early to discuss 'what next' for Gaza

Richard Barnes — Melbourne

It is far too early to even begin to contemplate what next for Gaza, which is now the theme of much well-intentioned commentary. There is barely a ceasefire, with Israel killing dozens of Palestinians over the past few days, and looking for every Hamas did it pretext to kill more. People are still starving to death, with the arrival of only limited food supplies. There are no functional hospitals. There are no foreign press to witness the carnage. And it is utterly unclear what the Trump plan now envisages. Now more than ever we should be applying all...
Beyond delusional

Alyssa Aleksanian — Hazelbrook

Are we still entertaining the delusion that the suffering of the Palestinian people is over? Are we still believing that a ceasefire is intact when, as I write, Israel has just dropped scores of bombs on the Gaza Strip in violation of the barely two-week-old agreement? Are we still deluded that Trump and Netanyahu’s plan to create a new Miami in Gaza has changed into an altruistic endeavour? It is sheer denial to now write about reconstruction and rebuilding when Palestine is still being bombarded, innocent Palestinians are being torn apart by tank and drone fire and mothers are...
A step in the right direction

Peter Kent — Melbourne

I think Michael McKinley's idea has merit. This doesn't mean the politicians will buy into it... how after all, could anyone question their decision-making capability? They are the government after all. The article reflects the lack of independent strategic thinking at government level, which the government, on first reflex at least, will be likely to deny or ignore, but which, in my view is the case. Michael's idea may not be the final version of what is required, or of what may possibly evolve... but it is a step in the right direction.



Latest from Al Jazeera

Trump claims Middle East countries offered to fight Hamas in Gaza
US president renews his threats to Hamas, saying that the Palestinian group could face 'FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL' end.
WFP says food supplies to Gaza below targets, urges more crossings to open
WFP says food supplies remain well below daily target of 2,000 tonnes, calls for Israel to open more crossing points.
Doubts emerge over Trump-Putin Budapest summit
Kremlin insists conditions for Ukraine ceasefire unchanged following reports suggesting growing US concerns.
Fact-checking RFK Jr’s false claim linking autism to circumcision
The US health secretary’s claims are false, as research finds no clear connection between circumcision and autism.
How Russia’s new tactics pose fresh winter threat to Ukraine
Russia's modified drones are piercing Ukraine's defences at greater rates than before, targeting energy infrastructure.
How Russia’s new tactics pose new winter threat to Ukraine
Russia's modified drones are piercing Ukraine's defences at greater rates than before, targeting energy infrastructure.