Mark Leibler on his lobbying power
Pearls and Irritations

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
Pearls and Irritations

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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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.

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Environment: Will Labor now protect our environment? If not now, probably never
Peter Sainsbury

Environment: Will Labor now protect our environment? If not now, probably never

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

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Dreyfus leaves little legacy
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Dreyfus leaves little legacy

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New pope faces limits on changes he can make to the Church

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'Escalation risks catastrophe': Restraint urged as Pakistan hits back after Indian strikes

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

China touts new law as foundation for private sector growth

The Racial Discrimination Act at 50
David Lee

The Racial Discrimination Act at 50

The need for depressive realism and a forgotten type of truth-telling
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The need for depressive realism and a forgotten type of truth-telling

Labor says its second term will be about productivity reform. These ideas could help shift the dial
Roy Green

Labor says its second term will be about productivity reform. These ideas could help shift the dial

The climate won’t change for the Liberals without more women and fewer oldies
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The climate won’t change for the Liberals without more women and fewer oldies

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

Aid to Gaza: Moral and political dilemmas for Australia

Exclusion of Ed Husic from the Albanese Ministry Statement
Paul Keating

Exclusion of Ed Husic from the Albanese Ministry Statement

Latest letters to the editor

Labor 2025: purpose or puppetry?

Chris Young — Surrey Hills, Vic

Labor’s first term in office was risk-averse. As Peter Sainsbury observes, if Anthony Albanese’s primary aim was to stay in office he was very successful. But to what end? If Labor’s second term will deliver essential major reforms, these should include vital environmental reforms detailed by Sainsbury, and reforms to taxation, gambling advertising, and more. The environmental reforms are critical because without substantial reinforcement of current regulations we shall see accelerating environmental degradation. Should Labor do nothing on this — and continue to support new oil and gas and not make substantial tightening of our environmental protection laws...
Was it a strategic mistake to sack Husic?

Doug Foskey — Tregeagle

I am wondering if the ALP has made a strategic mistake in removing Ed Husic (who I have always found to be a reasonable politician). In saying this, I look to Senator Fatima Payman, who has started a new party after resigning. My reason for wondering is the tendency these days to split issues instead of being inclusive. In my personal judgment, I feel the person who should go is Richard Marles, who I have never been fond of. I feel he is not a particlarly effective politician, so give someone else a go at the Defence portfolio,...
Greg Barns is spot on about Mark Dreyfus

Marion Buchanan — White Gum Valle, WA

I am a barrister in Western Australia. I spent three years working as an adviser to the WA Attorney General, John Quigley, MLA, who recently retired. I do not always agree with Greg Barnes. But his article on Mark Dreyfus KC is well thought out and an analysis that I hope our prime minister reads. It is almost certainly too late to change his pick for the next AG. I just hope he has it right this time. We are all failing when it comes to incarcerating children. And the Legal Aid budgets are shameful. Obviously, as a...
Legacy media is losing its influence

Dave Young — North Queensland

Thanks to Edward Hurcombe for his clear analysis. Legacy media have less relevance in affecting the flow of information, and subsequent opinion moulding, than before. Most certainly. But those who want to play the game of sensationalist click-bait headlines will still get their stories published on Yahoo! news et al, especially if in the Chris Lorax league (Mad As Daily Telegraph character). They still get to the 40-60-year-old bracket of disengaged-from-politics voters who make up their minds based on not very much. Moreover the weighting of what constitutes the centre is heavily influenced by the extremists...

Catch up on other sections

Arts 112 China 1106 Climate 1309 Commendations 19 Defence 2386 Economy 2628 Education 654
Employment 31 Finance 2 Health 1466 History 44 Immigration 944 Indigenous Affairs 367 Israel Palestine 1032
Media 1715 Podcast 43 Policy 121 Politics 16917 Racism 15 Religion 1202 Review 16
The Human Future 38 Our Top Five Each Week 1950 USA 382 World 1099

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