Letter
Where are Australia's religious leaders?
I am deeply disturbed by an item I saw on SBS’s news service this week concerning the plight of the people in Gaza and the effects of the Israeli Government’s blockade of all relief to them, including food, water and medicines.
The report showed several severely emaciated children with sunken eyes, matchstick-like limbs and clearly visible rib-cages, suffering from severe starvation and malnutrition. That such suffering by innocent children should be the result of the deliberate and illegal (under international law) actions and policies of the Israeli Government outraged me.
The Netanyahu Government is clearly an immoral and criminal regime. What outraged me even further was my sense that we, as Australians, were not doing enough to condemn this behaviour. Moreover, by not speaking up, Australia is condoning this behaviour. This is not who we are, and we should not condone it by our silence.
The government appears to be sitting on the fence by protesting politely about Israel’s conduct of its war on the Palestinians, but not strongly and roundly condemning the inhuman blockade of Gaza and holding the Israeli Government to account. It is time for our faith leaders to speak out!
— John Annison from Victoria