Paul Heywood-Smith
Recent articles by Paul Heywood-Smith
9 November 2023
UN Special Rapporteur Albanese visits Australia as government refuses to back Gaza ceasefire
In her first report in October 2022, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese recommended that UN member states develop a plan to end the Israeli settler-colonial occupation and apartheid regime. What message will she now bring to Australia?
8 November 2023
Enduring Peace: Three questions for the Australian Foreign Minister on Gaza
With the Australian government refusing to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, what is Australia actually doing to bring about the two state solution and a just and enduring peace called for by Foreign Minister Penny Wong this week?
7 November 2023
Israel does not have the right to defend itself
Over the last few weeks we have been bombarded with a number of assertions,advanced firstly as mere mantra, but then appearing as axioms, or self-evident truths.Israel has a right to defend itself; and Israel has a right to exist. I wish to question whether these two statements are as axiomatic as our Prime Minister and our Foreign Minister apparently assume.
23 October 2023
Genocide: Israel uses cover of Gaza crisis to Judaise Area C
An aside to what is happening in Gaza is events occurring in the West Bank, where there has been little focus. Reports in recent days have drawn attention to attempts by settlers read the Israeli government to Judaise Area C and to push Bedouins out of the West Bank.
19 October 2023
Western reporters shameful cover-up of Israels hospital massacre: A postscript
As a postscript to Caitlin Johnstones piece in yesterdays P&I, I wish to comment further on who is responsible for the attack on al-Ahli Arab Hospital on the 17th October.
16 October 2023
100 years of ethnic cleansing: Quo Vadis Palestine
Israel has spoken of erasing Gaza. Dont turn away. Stop. And think about what that might mean.
14 October 2023
Australia must support Turkey's mediation offer to prevent Palestinian massacre
On 11 October President Erdogan of Turkey came out and made a speech offering himself as a mediator in the current conflict. The first step in any mediation process had to be an immediate ceasefire on the part of both sides. It is time for Australia to accept its independent responsibility and to support Erdogans proposal.
8 October 2023
Palestinians, pushed beyond endurance, defend their homeland against violent apartheid
As a start, and a prompt, I once again call upon our government to recognise Palestine. Have the courage to stand up to Israel, and its primary backer, the United States. Oh, and another thing, Mr. Prime Minister, and Ms. Foreign Minister please dont purport to speak for all Australians when you say Israel has a right to defend itself.
3 October 2023
UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese to visit Australia
On 11 November the Australian Friends of Palestine Association, (AFOPA), based in Adelaide, will host the nineteenth Edward Said Memorial Lecture (ESML), at the Hawke Centre in Adelaide. The event is news-worthy particularly as the Australian Labor Party (ALP) struggles with the issue of Palestine at this time.
2 October 2023
Recognise Palestine now!
Every day that the Australian government delays recognition provides legitimacy for Israels plans to press ahead with the expulsion of Palestinians. Recognise Palestine now!
30 May 2023
Australia and apartheid Israel: not to act is to condone
The recent Robert Gregory blog in Australian Jewish News demands a response.
25 April 2023
Antisemitism and the IHRA definition
In a positive development, the University of Adelaide has rejected the adoption of the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism, because to adopt it would have been potentially counter to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech, according to the University Council.
27 March 2023
FOI exposes Australias attempts to protect Israel on apartheid status
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has asserted that Australia does not accept that Israel is an apartheid State. Freedom of information (FOI) documents have exposed that this position is not based on DFAT legal advice. The concerns of many Australians that their government, through trade and other dealings, or by even visiting Israel, might be making them an accomplice in a crime against humanity have been left unaddressed in order to protect Israel.
22 February 2023
Australia condemns brazen US blockade of Cuba in UNGA vote
Australia should be proud of its vote in the General Assembly in November last year to condemn the ongoing US blockade of Cuba.
14 February 2023
Why did Australia oppose an ICJ advisory opinion on Israeli settlements?
Surely the Australian people are entitled to an explanation as to why in December last year the government voted against an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of Israels occupation of Palestine.
8 January 2023
Australias DFAT blocks FOI request on Israel apartheid status
In November 2022, I brought a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for the Australian Government to disclose the basis of its non-acceptance of the reports that apartheid exists in Israel. Last week, DFAT rejected the request on the risible basis that to process it would unreasonably divert the departments resources.
24 November 2022
Ukraine: The other side of the story
It appears that wherever one looks or reads there are calls for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine: no other event is called for; in other words, capitulation by Russia.
8 November 2022
Melissa Parke accepts the Jerusalem (Al Quds) Peace Prize
The Jerusalem Peace Prize, awarded this year on 4th November in Melbourne, is an initiative of Australians for Palestine and the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.
2 November 2022
Australia must clarify Israels status as an Apartheid state
I refer to my earlier article on Israel and Apartheid. The article made the clear assertion that Israel is an apartheid state and has been found to be such by internationally respected bodies, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International.
24 October 2022
Author of The Australians editorial on Jerusalem: Identify yourself and defend your views
The Editorial appearing in The Australian entitled Labors Israel decision gets worse on the 21st of October demands an answer. The author of the Editorial is not identified but I would invite that person to identify himself.
23 October 2022
Australia must overturn its listing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation
In or about October 2021 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) under the previous government - listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code.
1 October 2022
Zionism, anti-semitism and the British Labour Party
Last week Ali Kazak re-published an article, The article was said to be by Yvonne Ridley and dated 23.12.2021. It addressed the prospect of (o)ne 82-year-old woman in Britain(being) expelled from the Labour Party having been accused of posting anti-Semitic views on social networks. Diana Neslen, though, is Jewish. The views essentially questioned Zionism, asserting that it was based on lies.
30 August 2022
Murdoch v Crikey
The writer is a retired, or close to retired, barrister who practiced in the area of defamation. He asks: are we to sit back and expect to be entertained for the next one to two years whilst the Federal Court discharges its duty to these litigants?Subject to the qualifications below, he thinks that it is unlikely.
25 August 2022
Defamation reform
A meeting of Attorneys-General was convened on 12 August in Melbourne and chaired by Commonwealth Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC.
11 July 2022
South Australia and antisemitism
On October 17 last year Pearls & Irritations published a piece by me entitled Labors British and Australian leaders are out of step with progressive opinion on Israel. I mused, inter alia, over the ALP continuing, post-election, and if successful, to tow the Israeli-lobby line.
6 June 2022
There is nothing complicated in the truths about Israel regarding Palestine
Michael Eassons article in Fridays (June 3) Pearls & Irritations warrants a response. Entitled The Israeli lobby mischaracterises the diverse Australian Jewish Community, the piece attacks Bob Carrs comments on the Israeli lobby in Australia in an earlier piece. Easson presents a litany of misleading concepts designed to do only one thing pull the wool over the eyes of the Australian public.
31 May 2022
Major parties scorecard on Palestine
In late March a YouGov poll was conducted on the topic of the Australian publics attitude on the Palestine issue. The poll was commissioned by APAN (Australian Palestine Advocacy Network) and AFOPA (Australian Friends of Palestine Association). The polls results suggested that the Government was out of touch with Australians on the issue. In particular, the Governments approach to the Occupied Palestinian Territories was considered to be simply wrong. Concerns centered around illegal Jewish settlements, apartheid, recognition of Palestine, and human rights.
30 May 2022
Reactionary succession: Peter Dutton, Australias new opposition leader
An inevitable consequence of the loss of the election by the Liberal National Coalition has been the resignation of the former PM as the leader of the Liberal Party. Peter Dutton has replaced Scott Morrison as leader of the Liberal Party, unopposed.
18 April 2022
Israel and apartheid
Readers will be aware that earlier this year Amnesty International released a report which made a determination that Israel was an apartheid State. The report was titled Israels Apartheid Against Palestinians, a Cruel System of Domination and a Crime Against Humanity.
23 October 2021
It's time to test political candidates on Israel and Palestine
Australians must ask themselves if, given the Coalition and Labor's support of Israel, they can vote for either of the major parties in good conscience.
16 October 2021
Labor's British and Australian leaders are out of step with progressive opinion on Israel
Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese express support for Israel while leading parties whose wider membership support the Palestinian cause. It is time for these leaders to back the party rank-and-file.
8 September 2021
Australians must ask why we haven't spoken out on Israeli squatter settlements
Australia ratified the Fourth Geneva Convention in 1958. So why do we question the ICC's jurisdiction over war crimes committed in Palestinian territories?