Letter

In response to Recognising Palestine a long overdue act of courage

A stark contrast

There is a stark contrast between Stuart Rees’ and Greg Barns’ conception of Australia’s “courage” in the (sort of) recognition of Palestine, with Chris Sidoti’s (P & I’’s 23/9) “Israel must end its genocide in Gaza. But Australia must act too”.

For example, where Sidoti writes: “I can list another eight actions that could and should be taken immediately”.

He does list those eight actions. Recognition, such as it is (so many caveats and delays built in), still denies the Palestinian people the “right to self-determination” (see Sidoti).

Such recognition is not an “act”, it is theatre, a ruse. It is not courageous, at all.

“Acting” as per Sidoti’s list of eight would constitute actual courage. But, as we’ve seen for years, decades, such courage is a “bridge too far” for Australian Governments. They always prefer theatre.

— David Thompson from Clayton