The situation faced by Ukrainians and Palestinians is vastly different, but at the same time similar.

Neither Russia nor Israel will abide by international law unless pressure is brought to bear from outside. In particular, there must be agreement in relation to sanctions. Without such pressure, Israel under Netanyahu will continue his campaign to gain control of all the land of ancient Palestine, denying forever the common law rights of Palestinians, let alone their dignity, freedom and autonomy.

Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reveal himself as the self-important, arrogant, impervious to human suffering, figure that he is. It is apparently not enough to deny the starvation he is overtly causing. Not enough to sanction the killing of journalists who report atrocities. Not enough to sanction bombs that fall on children’s playgrounds. Not enough to treat his own Israeli hostages as collateral damage as he feeds his insatiable appetite for war, despite the advice of his own IDF. Not enough to consider sending Palestinians to war-torn and poverty-stricken South Sudan. Not enough to deny there will ever be a Palestinian state. Not enough to approve settler violence on the West Bank. Not enough to show the tortured face of Marwan Barghouti. He now has the arrogance to tell leaders of democratic countries they have no right to speak against such atrocities and no right to unequivocally voice support for equality, justice and the rule of law.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, you have been personally criticised by this arrogant, violent man. This is a compliment to your strength of character and your commitment to the values of decency and common good held by mainstream Australia and Australians.

It is also a compliment to the standing Australia holds in the international community, otherwise why would he have bothered? You have received much criticism for “virtue signalling”. The blasts you received from Netanyahu and Mike Huckabee, the US envoy, indicate you have done far more than that. I realise you are not wanting to go beyond positions adopted by Britian, Canada, France etc. but if there is any valid criticism, it is that you have not gone far enough. It is time for you to work hard with Australia’s allies including Arab countries, to establish a coalition of the willing, which will place severe sanctions on Israel.

Bridget Mackenzie, Michaelia Cash, et al, be very careful. You have the politician’s desire to score political points. Be conscious of the fact that in so doing you are voicing support for action that seemingly does not even have the support of the majority of Israelis, let alone justice loving members of the Jewish diaspora here in Australia. Please try to be honest. You cannot uncritically support Netanyahu and the Israeli Government while at the same time mouthing support for an outcome in which Palestinians have a future. In supporting Netanyahu, you are supporting the denial of any right, let alone autonomy, for Palestinian people, now and into the future. You are, in fact, supporting Netanyahu, Smotrich and Ben Gvir in their view that Palestinians do not exist.

The claim that Albanese is supporting Hamas, and that the choice is between supporting Hamas or supporting Israel, is rank nonsense. Israel has needed Hamas as an excuse for carrying out its long-held desire of possessing this land. Hamas exists because all Palestinian rights are denied. Israel will always face resistance while it makes Palestinians aliens in their own land. Insisting on the right of Palestinians to exist, far from supporting Hamas, is a step towards creating peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Netanyahu is doing irreparable harm to the reputation and standing of worldwide Jewry. Often, when people attribute to others derogatory motive or consequence, they are describing themselves. When Netanyahu accuses the current Australian Government of whipping up antisemitism, he is in fact describing the outcome of his own actions. It is regrettably the case that the Zionist enterprise in Israel, and the support it has received in Australia, has caused a rise in antisemitic behaviour. However, here in Australia we are also profoundly blessed by many thousands within the Jewish community to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude who have made it abundantly clear this is not being done in their name.

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