Peter Slezak

Recent articles by Peter Slezak

Peter Slezak's speech to the University of Technology Sydney rally on 26 March

Peter Slezak's speech to the University of Technology Sydney rally on 26 March

Remarks made by UNSW academic Peter Slezak at a rally at UTS on 26 March, have attracted considerable negative coverage in the Murdoch media. [The Australian and The Daily Telegraph] Pearls And Irritations is carrying the full text of the speech so that readers can make up their own minds.

Peter Slezak's Gaza rally speech: 'We face one of the greatest moral tests of our time'

Peter Slezak's Gaza rally speech: 'We face one of the greatest moral tests of our time'

Together with many Jews here and around the world, I’m proud to stand with you once again in solidarity with Palestine. On this occasion, I want to talk about the growing hysteria about antisemitism.

No longer possible to defend the slaughter of over 40,000 civilians as 'Israel’s right to self-defence'

No longer possible to defend the slaughter of over 40,000 civilians as 'Israel’s right to self-defence'

I know what antisemitism looks like and it is to desecrate the memory of my parents and the victims of real antisemitism when it is weaponised to silence justified criticism of Israel’s crimes.

If Tel Aviv was reduced to rubble like Gaza, the world would stop the war immediately

If Tel Aviv was reduced to rubble like Gaza, the world would stop the war immediately

My mother survived the WW2 Nazi Auschwitz extermination camp, and she always asked why was the world silent? Why did they look away from the genocide of the Jews and do nothing? Today we know the answer as our government and media look away and do nothing for the Palestinians.

Justice delayed is justice denied: The case for a Palestinian state

Justice delayed is justice denied: The case for a Palestinian state

Peter Wertheim (July 24, 2023) suggests that the Government should resist the call by Former Foreign Minister Bob Carr to recognise a Palestinian state. However, Wertheims remarks reflect widespread misapprehensions about relevant history, facts on the ground and international law.

A fizzled campaign to muzzle free speech

A fizzled campaign to muzzle free speech

Antisemitism, like all forms of racism, is a scourge and Australia has not been immune to it. Traditional antisemitism is not hard to identify or call out whether it is in graffiti, slogans or slurs. However, when it comes to debate over Israel and Palestine, what is or is not antisemitic is a highly political issue.

Boycott of Sydney Festival is not about artistic censorship

Boycott of Sydney Festival is not about artistic censorship

It was not the performance of the Israeli choreographers Decadance which was the concern but rather the funding from the Israeli government sought by the festival.

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