Australia doesn’t mind imposing sanctions on nations or groups it regards as being deserving of punishment for their nefarious activities, Russia, Iran and Zimbabwe to name a few.

But Israel, the nation that is currently starving men, women and children, and which is committing genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, is not on the list. It is unconscionable and demonstrates the moral cowardice of a nation that once led the world in opposing another form of evil – apartheid South Africa.

At best, the Albanese Government joins with other nations in signing letters, as it did last week, condemning Israel. It has begun to shift its position in the UN. But that’s it.

Despite denials by Defence Minister Richard Marles and others, Australia is still exporting military ware to Israel. And the broader trade relationship is unaffected.

It is worth checking the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website sanctions page. There you will find the list of nations, some of whom are mentioned above. These sanctions are often imposed as part of a broader UN effort. It defies logic that Russia and Zimbabwe are on the list, but not Israel.

What is stopping the government of Anthony Albanese from doing what the governments of Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke did in the 1970s and 1980s? These were governments unafraid to take a hard line against South Africa.

Before we go any further (noting there will be the inevitable justification by the Israel lobby as there always is when this columnist writes on this topic) consider the genocide claim against Israel. Because trading with a nation committing genocide is the stuff of hell.

Despite the caviling of a few “experts” who take money from US or Israeli institutions, the scholarly consensus is Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The latest example of this consensus came last week when Dutch newspaper NRC interviewed seven genocide and Holocaust scholars from a number of countries, including Israel. No doubt there is genocide was the unanimous view, with an Israeli scholar, Raz Segal, being quoted as saying, “Can I name someone whose work I respect who does not think it is genocide? No, there is no counterargument that takes into account all the evidence.”

The International Rescue Committee painted a bleak picture of what is happening in Gaza at the moment because of the depraved tactics of the regime of Israel Prime Minister, and alleged war criminal, Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the IRC, its research showed in April (and things have only got a lot worse since then) that nearly “three in five families reported being unable to find bread or fresh food” and that more “than 60% said they were struggling to access drinking water”. The latest data, according to the IRC, reveals that “the entire population of Gaza is now facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people (one in five) facing starvation”.

And, of course, this extraordinary inhumanity has come about because countries like Australia, the UK and most of Europe have done nothing to stop Israel’s determination to take over Gaza and drive every Palestinian man, woman and child from it.

All we have done is chide and occasionally raise our collective fist, while harassing Palestinian supporters in universities, the media and elsewhere, accusing them of antisemitism.

Meanwhile Australia’s trade with Israel flourishes. According to DFAT in 2023, “two-way goods and services trade amounted to approximately $1.4 billion”. And in the same year, “Australian investment in Israel totalled over $1.7 billion and Israeli investment in Australia was over $5.5 billion”.

And we are still trading in defence and security exports with this nation. In other words, indirectly or directly assisting the Israeli defence forces.

Last month lawyer and writer Kellie Tranter revealed that since October 2023 and March 2025, Australian exports to Israel had included defence or defence-related products. Greens Senator David Shoebridge, also last month, revealed an Australian-made “lethal” remote weapons system being used in Israel. Senator Shoebridge identified it as made by Australian manufacturer EOS Systems.

Even the empty-headed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced suspension of his nation’s trade deal talks with Israel. But what does our government do? A few limited sanctions on criminal West Bank settlers and not much more.

Why are we allowing Australian businesses to trade and invest with a state whose government is intent on unrelenting violence and destruction of its fellow human beings, in defiance of all laws?

Worse still, why are we condoning the morally bankrupt arts organisations and universities making life hell for Palestinian advocates?

And finally, why does our media, including the ABC, insist on “neutrality” on the Gaza conflict? There is no place for even-handedness in the media when men, women and children are being killed, their hospitals bombed, and where starvation is being inflicted on them by a criminal regime.

Republished from the Mercury, May 2025

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.