Letter

In response to Peace in Gaza needs a full accounting by both sides

Really? Will Australia act against Netanyahu?

Jack Waterford says in connection with ICC warrants out for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “he would, for example, be arrested if he came to Australia”.

Really? Is Waterford that confident? I can’t be the only one who isn’t at all confident that would be the case. Given Australia’s failure to take any concrete action to halt the genocide in Palestine, preferring instead to serve up word salads including, in this context, its belated plan to recognise Palestine, I can see that Australia’s strongest action should Netanyahu land here would be to turn him back.

Bravery has not been a hallmark of our current prime minister. To expect him to hand over to the ICC the head of another country, one we still call a friend and ally, one which has disproportionate influence in this country, strikes me as an impossibly challenging first step on the road to courage.

— Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122