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| The panel: Australian views on the Gaza conflict | The panel: Australian views on the Gaza conflict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fahad Ali, medical student and president of the Students for Palestine Society at the University of Sydney | Fahad Ali, medical student and president of the Students for Palestine Society at the University of Sydney |
| All I know of my country is through song and story, through books, faded photographs, my grandmother's heavy sighs and an overwhelming, communal sense of loss. I have never set foot in Palestine, and sometimes I fear that I never will. A little over a year ago, I came to the realisation that wallowing in fear and despair was going to do absolutely nothing to change the status quo, and so I stepped slowly and cautiously into Palestine solidarity activism. | All I know of my country is through song and story, through books, faded photographs, my grandmother's heavy sighs and an overwhelming, communal sense of loss. I have never set foot in Palestine, and sometimes I fear that I never will. A little over a year ago, I came to the realisation that wallowing in fear and despair was going to do absolutely nothing to change the status quo, and so I stepped slowly and cautiously into Palestine solidarity activism. |
| I made the decision very early on that I would not accept to be a part of any campaign that vilified the Jewish people. I know what it feels like to be reduced to a caricature. My dark skin and Arabic name have earned me the label of "terrorist" in the past. It did not matter that I hated the bombings, "Arab" became synonymous with violence and explosive vests. | I made the decision very early on that I would not accept to be a part of any campaign that vilified the Jewish people. I know what it feels like to be reduced to a caricature. My dark skin and Arabic name have earned me the label of "terrorist" in the past. It did not matter that I hated the bombings, "Arab" became synonymous with violence and explosive vests. |
| The recent protests against the brutal military siege on the Gaza Strip have been important in raising public awareness of the atrocities that are being committed against the Palestinians. But what do we gain from Shylockian representations of the Jewish people? What do we gain from equating the star of David with a Nazi swastika? Many Arab Australians, I'm sure, will share the same experiences of racism that I have; how is it any different to equate the star and crescent with the terrors of ISIL? How can we express our outrage at the Jyllands-Posten cartoon and then entertain the thought that the Jewish people have an insatiable thirst for blood? | The recent protests against the brutal military siege on the Gaza Strip have been important in raising public awareness of the atrocities that are being committed against the Palestinians. But what do we gain from Shylockian representations of the Jewish people? What do we gain from equating the star of David with a Nazi swastika? Many Arab Australians, I'm sure, will share the same experiences of racism that I have; how is it any different to equate the star and crescent with the terrors of ISIL? How can we express our outrage at the Jyllands-Posten cartoon and then entertain the thought that the Jewish people have an insatiable thirst for blood? |
| The nature of the issue makes it easy for latent anti-Semitism and anti-Arabism to be mobilised by either side. But where does that lead us? Both sides must understand that the other is here to stay. The Palestinian people will not be removed from their ancestral homeland, nor will the state of Israel be dismantled. Coexistence, defined by mutual respect and empathy, is the only path to peace. By endorsing and co-opting anti-Semitism, we push coexistence further away, damning the prospects of an expeditious end to the occupation. | The nature of the issue makes it easy for latent anti-Semitism and anti-Arabism to be mobilised by either side. But where does that lead us? Both sides must understand that the other is here to stay. The Palestinian people will not be removed from their ancestral homeland, nor will the state of Israel be dismantled. Coexistence, defined by mutual respect and empathy, is the only path to peace. By endorsing and co-opting anti-Semitism, we push coexistence further away, damning the prospects of an expeditious end to the occupation. |
| The leaders of the Palestine solidarity movement in Australia and the organisers of these rallies must make efforts to combat anti-Semitism. This does not prevent us from condemning, in the strongest terms, the violations of international law committed by Israel, or the recklessness of the Israeli Defence Force, which has led to a 76% civilian casualty rate in Gaza. The organisers may not be responsible for the offensive banners that often turn up, but they do have a duty to speak out and remind the community that the liberation of Palestine is fundamentally a question of human ideals. | The leaders of the Palestine solidarity movement in Australia and the organisers of these rallies must make efforts to combat anti-Semitism. This does not prevent us from condemning, in the strongest terms, the violations of international law committed by Israel, or the recklessness of the Israeli Defence Force, which has led to a 76% civilian casualty rate in Gaza. The organisers may not be responsible for the offensive banners that often turn up, but they do have a duty to speak out and remind the community that the liberation of Palestine is fundamentally a question of human ideals. |
| Alex Ryvchin, public affairs director at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry | |
| The lop-sided narrative blaming Israel for the conflict is increasingly being exposed as a lie, as the world finally wakes up to Hamas. It was Israel which accepted the ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League, and Hamas which rejected it. Israel even ceased fire unilaterally for several hours, but Hamas stepped up its rocket fire into Israeli cities. UNRWA has now rebuked Palestinian terror groups for using a school in Gaza to hide their rockets, and making the school a military target. These groups are using their civilians to protect their weapons when it should be the other way around. | The lop-sided narrative blaming Israel for the conflict is increasingly being exposed as a lie, as the world finally wakes up to Hamas. It was Israel which accepted the ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League, and Hamas which rejected it. Israel even ceased fire unilaterally for several hours, but Hamas stepped up its rocket fire into Israeli cities. UNRWA has now rebuked Palestinian terror groups for using a school in Gaza to hide their rockets, and making the school a military target. These groups are using their civilians to protect their weapons when it should be the other way around. |
| Hamas has used building materials earmarked for civilian and humanitarian purposes in order to build tunnels into Israel to attack Israeli civilians, yet it has not constructed underground shelters to protect Palestinian civilians. | Hamas has used building materials earmarked for civilian and humanitarian purposes in order to build tunnels into Israel to attack Israeli civilians, yet it has not constructed underground shelters to protect Palestinian civilians. |
| Last week, 13 heavily armed terrorists were caught emerging from a tunnel on Israeli territory, preparing to attack residents of a kibbutz. This has highlighted the need to destroy the tunnels, and has necessitated Israel’s ground operation into Gaza, in addition to the ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli population centres. | Last week, 13 heavily armed terrorists were caught emerging from a tunnel on Israeli territory, preparing to attack residents of a kibbutz. This has highlighted the need to destroy the tunnels, and has necessitated Israel’s ground operation into Gaza, in addition to the ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli population centres. |
| Even the Palestinian representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Ibrahim Khraishi, has admitted that “each and every” Palestinian missile launched against Israeli civilian centers constitutes “a crime against humanity” and that, by contrast, Israel’s own response actions in Gaza have “followed the legal procedures”. As these facts emerge, the political pressure will be on Hamas to accept a ceasefire – a strategic loss for them. | Even the Palestinian representative to the UN Human Rights Council, Ibrahim Khraishi, has admitted that “each and every” Palestinian missile launched against Israeli civilian centers constitutes “a crime against humanity” and that, by contrast, Israel’s own response actions in Gaza have “followed the legal procedures”. As these facts emerge, the political pressure will be on Hamas to accept a ceasefire – a strategic loss for them. |
| Australian governments, Coalition and Labor, have traditionally been voices of rationality and moderation. Australia’s current political leaders have been correct to call for acceptance by Hamas, and not just Israel, of the ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League. In the end there can be no justice, and therefore no peace, other than in accordance with the internationally endorsed principle of two states for two peoples. This has to be negotiated directly by the parties. Other parties of goodwill can assist, but cannot impose a solution. | Australian governments, Coalition and Labor, have traditionally been voices of rationality and moderation. Australia’s current political leaders have been correct to call for acceptance by Hamas, and not just Israel, of the ceasefire proposal brokered by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League. In the end there can be no justice, and therefore no peace, other than in accordance with the internationally endorsed principle of two states for two peoples. This has to be negotiated directly by the parties. Other parties of goodwill can assist, but cannot impose a solution. |
| Jennine Abdul Khalik: Co-editor of Arab-Australian site Sajjeling and Palestinian human rights advocate | Jennine Abdul Khalik: Co-editor of Arab-Australian site Sajjeling and Palestinian human rights advocate |
| Whilst Israel continues its latest full-scale offensive against Gaza, I am left deeply bothered by the Abbott government’s silence. | Whilst Israel continues its latest full-scale offensive against Gaza, I am left deeply bothered by the Abbott government’s silence. |
| Aside from a short statement by foreign minister Julie Bishop disparaging Hamas and praising Israel on how it handled a ceasefire negotiation, our government has offered no condemnation of Israel’s clear breaches of international law. | Aside from a short statement by foreign minister Julie Bishop disparaging Hamas and praising Israel on how it handled a ceasefire negotiation, our government has offered no condemnation of Israel’s clear breaches of international law. |
| It is telling when Tony Abbott extends his condolences to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over three murdered Israeli students attending a religious seminary in the settlements, but seems unable to express any sympathy for over 600 Palestinians killed in this ongoing assault – a third of them children. In construing this quiet, it appears that Abbott and his party do not consider a Palestinian person to be worth even two hundredths of an Israeli. | It is telling when Tony Abbott extends his condolences to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu over three murdered Israeli students attending a religious seminary in the settlements, but seems unable to express any sympathy for over 600 Palestinians killed in this ongoing assault – a third of them children. In construing this quiet, it appears that Abbott and his party do not consider a Palestinian person to be worth even two hundredths of an Israeli. |
| Why is it that Palestinian lives are not valuable enough for comment, let alone diplomatic action? For the same reason Netanyahu labelled Gaza, home to 1.8m Palestinians, a “fortress of terror”. There is a belief that Palestinians are terroristic by default, for just existing, living, being, and are thereby disposable for it. | Why is it that Palestinian lives are not valuable enough for comment, let alone diplomatic action? For the same reason Netanyahu labelled Gaza, home to 1.8m Palestinians, a “fortress of terror”. There is a belief that Palestinians are terroristic by default, for just existing, living, being, and are thereby disposable for it. |
| While the violence continues, the Abbott government enables Israeli impunity. Last year, the Liberals opposed a UN resolution ordering an end to all settlement activities. More recently, attorney-general George Brandis asserted that referring to the occupied East Jerusalem as, well, occupied was “pejorative”, “unhelpful”, and “judgmental”. | While the violence continues, the Abbott government enables Israeli impunity. Last year, the Liberals opposed a UN resolution ordering an end to all settlement activities. More recently, attorney-general George Brandis asserted that referring to the occupied East Jerusalem as, well, occupied was “pejorative”, “unhelpful”, and “judgmental”. |
| So, is it any wonder why Canberra is awfully quiet? How many more people in Gaza need to die before it is no longer too controversial or unhelpful to tell it like it is? How many more hospitals need to be shelled before the international community decides to boycott and sanction Israel with impact? | So, is it any wonder why Canberra is awfully quiet? How many more people in Gaza need to die before it is no longer too controversial or unhelpful to tell it like it is? How many more hospitals need to be shelled before the international community decides to boycott and sanction Israel with impact? |
| Since the Australian government cannot bring itself to humanise Palestinians and take a principled and just stance when it comes to Palestine and Palestinians, it is in the hands of Australian civil society to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thousands of Australians have poured into city streets since the offensive began, condemning Israel and calling upon others to participate in the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The BDS movement, initialised and endorsed by Palestinian civil society in 2005, is one of the most impactful things we can do to challenge Israel’s impunity and its normalcy. It begins in our streets, in our universities, and amongst our businesses and organisations. We can cut through government silence from below. | Since the Australian government cannot bring itself to humanise Palestinians and take a principled and just stance when it comes to Palestine and Palestinians, it is in the hands of Australian civil society to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity. Thousands of Australians have poured into city streets since the offensive began, condemning Israel and calling upon others to participate in the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The BDS movement, initialised and endorsed by Palestinian civil society in 2005, is one of the most impactful things we can do to challenge Israel’s impunity and its normalcy. It begins in our streets, in our universities, and amongst our businesses and organisations. We can cut through government silence from below. |
| Jake Lynch, director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and the University of Sydney | Jake Lynch, director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and the University of Sydney |
| The Palestinians are under indiscriminate and disproportionate military attack, which is a war crime. They have a right to defend themselves because their territory is under an illegal military occupation. But the rocket fire coming from Gaza is also indiscriminate, and therefore also potentially a war crime. | The Palestinians are under indiscriminate and disproportionate military attack, which is a war crime. They have a right to defend themselves because their territory is under an illegal military occupation. But the rocket fire coming from Gaza is also indiscriminate, and therefore also potentially a war crime. |
| Palestinians were on a promising track when they were making diplomatic gains up to the vote at the UN general assembly to confer on Palestine the status of a non-member state in 2012. At the same time, there was intensifying pressure from the international community in the BDS movement. Between them, those two strands were beginning to exert the kind of pressure which could stop Israel’s recourse to violence. | Palestinians were on a promising track when they were making diplomatic gains up to the vote at the UN general assembly to confer on Palestine the status of a non-member state in 2012. At the same time, there was intensifying pressure from the international community in the BDS movement. Between them, those two strands were beginning to exert the kind of pressure which could stop Israel’s recourse to violence. |
| Unfortunately, the US-sponsored “peace process” is ill-fated because it’s coming from the wrong starting point. The parties are nowhere near sufficiently equal to make such a process of dialogue work, and the broker (the US) is Israel’s chief arms dealer and diplomatic protector – an inappropriate mediator to begin with. Therefore, approximately 18 months have been wasted on that. Meanwhile, settlement building continues apace. | Unfortunately, the US-sponsored “peace process” is ill-fated because it’s coming from the wrong starting point. The parties are nowhere near sufficiently equal to make such a process of dialogue work, and the broker (the US) is Israel’s chief arms dealer and diplomatic protector – an inappropriate mediator to begin with. Therefore, approximately 18 months have been wasted on that. Meanwhile, settlement building continues apace. |
| What the Palestinians need is to go back to that strategy of having those two tracks running parallel simultaneously, and make diplomatic gains. | What the Palestinians need is to go back to that strategy of having those two tracks running parallel simultaneously, and make diplomatic gains. |
| There has to be a ceasefire, but not one that’s cynically used by the Americans and Egyptians to demand the Palestinians unilaterally surrender. Israel is still very much the occupying power in Gaza, as innumerable UN resolutions make clear, because it controls the seaboard, the airspace and the border. That is the number one priority: to promote a dialogue about how we bring that occupation to an end. | There has to be a ceasefire, but not one that’s cynically used by the Americans and Egyptians to demand the Palestinians unilaterally surrender. Israel is still very much the occupying power in Gaza, as innumerable UN resolutions make clear, because it controls the seaboard, the airspace and the border. That is the number one priority: to promote a dialogue about how we bring that occupation to an end. |
| As for Australia, we should certainly stop cooperating with the Israelis in their development of hi-tech killing equipment – that makes us directly complicit in the violence being meted out to Palestinians. Australia could also stop voting with this tiny rump of countries led by the US against resolutions at the UN such as those that condemn the occupation, and recognise the Palestinians as a non-member state. | As for Australia, we should certainly stop cooperating with the Israelis in their development of hi-tech killing equipment – that makes us directly complicit in the violence being meted out to Palestinians. Australia could also stop voting with this tiny rump of countries led by the US against resolutions at the UN such as those that condemn the occupation, and recognise the Palestinians as a non-member state. |
| • Comments will open later on today | • Comments will open later on today |
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