Israel Palestine
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Words under occupation
In our post-truth world, the art of messing with words has been perfected. When the Ramallah-based Ishtar Theatre issued a global call to creatives of all disciplines to join the cultural intifada in solidarity with the Palestinian people, I responded by writing a series of poems. Words under Occupation is an act of resistance and Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
It is 22 years since Rachel Corrie was killed by the Israeli military as she defended a Palestinian home against a bulldozer. Adam Bandt on ABC’s Insiders says the priority should be to end AUKUS. Bombing continues in Yemen where Ansar Allah is maintaining a blockade in the Red Sea. The Australia Institute calls out Continue reading »
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Anatomy of a public meeting: genocide a key election issue
Sunday evening in a crowded Glebe Town Hall in Sydney, the audience came to hear speakers address several objectives to “make candidates” attitude to genocide a key election issue, hold politicians accountable for genocide, vote for humanity”. Continue reading »
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Why is Israel such a big deal?
I’ll begin with a reminder, for the Zionists in the audience, of what antisemitism is. I grew up surrounded by adults with blue numbers tattooed on their forearms. My primary school teacher relentlessly picked on the three Jewish kids in her class. My high school refused to discipline a girl who punched me in the Continue reading »
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Palestinian speech and the trials of Mark Dreyfus
“The label Zionist is used, not in any way, accurately. When critics use that word, they actually mean Jew. They’re not really saying Zionist, they’re saying Jew because they know that they cannot say Jew, so they say Zionist or words [such as] Zeo or Zio.” –Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, October 2024 Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Geoffrey Watson tells it like it is about Brendan Nelson having an undisclosed paid role with French arms dealer Thales while serving as a director of the Australian War Memorial. Netanyahu joins IDF forces in the takeover of Palestinian homes and posts about it. In our Parliament, just 11 voted No against criminalising “hate” speech Continue reading »
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No apologies over fabricated terror plot from pollies or lobby groups
When it comes to antisemitism, politicians in this country are often quick to jump on the claim without waiting for evidence. With notable and laudable exceptions like the Greens and independents such as Tasmanian federal MP Andrew Wilkie, it seems any allegation will do when it comes to the opportunity to imply Arab Australians, the Continue reading »
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Universalism the panacea for Palestine
Defence of the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination is a collective responsibility fuelled by commitments to theory and ideology inherent in universalism. In domestic and foreign policies and in the conduct of personal relations, the values associated with universalism concern altruism and inclusiveness, each goal delivered in a spirit of generosity. Continue reading »
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If you bomb us, do we not bleed?
In 1997, the World Health Organisation invited me to be a short-term consultant to visit Iran and advise on HIV control among people who inject drugs and the spread from them to the large low-risk general population. At the time, HIV was spreading rapidly in Iran. I felt honoured to be invited to a country Continue reading »
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Challenging ‘antisemitism’
The definition of antisemitism has been hijacked and devalued, most recently in the craven acceptance by vice-chancellors that it should also cover some criticism of Israel. This article argues that the time has come to push back by actively resisting the misapplication of the term and restoring it to its proper meaning – hatred of Continue reading »
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Legitimising the erasure of Palestinians
“Physical violence can’t exist without violence of language.” Omar El Akkad Continue reading »
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Vote for humanity: why genocide is a key election issue – hold politicians accountable
Public Meeting – Glebe Town Hall Sunday 9 March, 7pm – 8.30pm Bookings – via Eventbrite Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
The Chinese Embassy in the US underlines the country’s differences with the US. Marco Rubio and Boris Johnson refer to the war in Ukraine as a proxy war, while Rubio also reaffirms Trump’s warning to Hamas. Ohad Kozminsky of the Jewish Council of Australia shares his views on Western colonialism and Gaza. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Justin Trudeau eloquently calls Trump’s tariffs a trade war. Miko Peled questions why the allies aren’t liberating the concentration camp that is Gaza, Jeffrey Sachs asks how many wars China has been in in the last 40 years. Peter Cronau lists our eclectic list of defence priorities. Continue reading »
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Is there a shift in our appreciation of dissent?
Since the Israel/US alliance went into full-throttle war machine mode in the name of Israel’s right to self-defence, fissures have appeared in the global community, delineating various camps. Roughly speaking: those who support Israel, those who condemn Israel, and those who question Israel. Continue reading »
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Reading al Nakba
The arrogance of early Victorian colonial settlement seems lost to amnesia. Maps of the time show the world as if diseased by a sprawling red virus – the British Empire. With the reach of the red went a blind and over-weening attitude of entitlement, a dictation of what would and would not be. Indigenous people Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Sarah Schwarz speaks to the silencing tactics against those speaking up for Palestine. Francesca Albanese outlines the many elements that make up genocide. Peter Cronau suggests Australia appears to have breached the International Court of Justice ruling by exporting coal from Newcastle to Israel, while Cameron Leckie suggests a peacekeeping force for Ukraine is disingenuous Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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Australia must condemn Israel’s genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
The Australian Government must condemn Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza and its plans to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from their homelands. It is also the responsibility of the national broadcaster to hold Canberra to account, by demanding this condemnation of our ally Israel for its gross and indisputable violations of international law. Continue reading »
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The real estate deals of the century
The world is shocked by President Trump’s solution for the ‘Palestinian Problem’. It’s similar to the one his father used to up-market his NY tenement properties – call in the police to throw the tenants out into the street. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
The Australian media continues its hysteria over the China warships. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledges all support for Ukraine, while Israel’s Netanyahu thanks Donald Trump for his support. Meanwhile, our US alliance has been in crisis for longer than we think. Continue reading »
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This upside-down world
What an amazing thing is the human spirit. What an amazing thing is human dignity. We, the Palestinians, despite everything this cruel world has dished out to us for over a century, could give the whole world a master-class on how to survive with dignity. Continue reading »
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People’s inquiry into campus free speech on Palestine to shine a light on repression
When power oppresses, civil society must hold it to account. Like media and the arts, university campuses in Australia have become sites of censorship and suppression of free speech on the question of Palestine. Continue reading »
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Daniel Levy: We are all people, we are all born equal
Daniel Levy, president of the US/Middle East Project, addressed the UN Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Trump give his first views on China policy. Sarah Henderson criticises ABC for including Jewish Council of Australia in their programs.The LNP has confirmed that Australians will pay to see their GP under Dutton. Penny Wong welcomes 25 Somare-Whitlam scholars to Australia and a call for truth to be a key factor in political advertising. Continue reading »
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What can one now say about Israel without being smeared as an antisemite?
I read the definition of antisemitism adopted by Australian universities and my first thought was “we need a list”, not of what is considered antisemitic, but of what is not considered antisemetic. Now it would be helpful to have a prescriptive list of what one can say about Israel without being smeared as an antisemite. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
While questioning Penny Wong, Michaelia Cash advises the LNP under Peter Dutton will reject international law and the arrest of Netanyahu should he come to Australia. Penny Wong reminds her of the previous government’s hate speech. In the UN, Noa Argamani describes the moment when the building she was in collapsed under Israeli bombardment, while Continue reading »
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Jewish Council slams Uni adoption of dangerous, politicised and unworkable antisemitism definition
The Jewish Council of Australia says Australia’s 39 Universities have endorsed a dangerous and politicised definition of antisemitism which threatens academic freedom, will have a chilling effect on legitimate criticism of Israel, and risks institutionalising anti-Palestinian racism. It adds that they did so without meaningful consultation with Palestinian groups or diverse Jewish groups who are Continue reading »
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Cultural McCarthyism in Australia: The new battleground for artistic freedom
McCarthyism — the infamous anti-communist witch hunt of the 1950s — is thought of as a dark chapter in American history, where accusations alone could destroy careers, reputations, and entire artistic movements. Figures such as screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, playwright Lillian Hellman, and actor John Garfield saw their careers derailed, with many blacklisted from the industry. Continue reading »
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Explaining Trump’s foreign policy
When analysts seek to explain Donald Trump’s approach to government they inevitably focus on his personality: an unstable and capricious transactional negotiator with no fixed ideology who seems to be a narcissist and a pathological liar. Continue reading »
