FPM members have been busily preparing submissions to DFAT to deter the Australian government from strengthen trade and investment with Israel. One of these very detailed submissions is provided here for your information.
The summary of the submission reads:
When considering any international agreement, countries must consider a broad range of factors- compliance with international law, any effect, beneficial or otherwise, to that country’s international standing and of course, economic benefit. It is not something to be done lightly and without due consideration to all ramifications and implications.
Israel blatantly ignores international law and disregards UN resolutions, receives widespread international condemnation for its actions in the occupied Palestinian territory, is being investigated by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and is the subject of a global boycott, divest and sanction campaign
To openly increase our ties with such a country would make Australia a complicit partner. It normalises the blockade of Gaza, severely damages our international reputation and standing, and potentially puts us at risk of economic sanctions. In fact, it is for exactly this reason that where a country is engaging in such serious violations of international law, that Third States like Australia have our own international law obligations to not engage with that State in ways that give recognition, legitimacy, assistance and aid to maintain the status quo.1 In other words, if Australia is to enter into this agreement with Israel, we will be in violation of our obligations under international law.
FORUM – Al Tatbia3: Freedom or Normalisation? Palestine, Israel and the Arab World
Wednesday 10 February 2021, 8pm to 9.30pm (AEST) Register here
Further details on EVENTS page.
We’re really delighted Dr Samah Sabawi is joining us on the panel. For those who don’t know her, Samah is a Palestinian-Australian playwright, author and poet. Outside the realm of art, she is a policy advisor to Al-Shabaka – الشبكة, the Palestinian Policy Network and the host of the new podcast and web series The Book Room with Samah Sabawi. Samah has also joined Nasser Mashni and FPM for a promotional interview on 3CR Community Radio that will air at 9.30am this Saturday. Make sure you tune in.
Miko Peled and Robert Martin: One on One
Author and activist, Miko Peled, hosts a discussion with longtime friend and Australian activist, Robert Martin. From Palestine to Maradona: no topic will go untouched and no stone left unturned.
This article discusses the psychology and manipulation of that psychology that justify Israel’s security doctrine and, by extension, the adoption of targeted killing as a state policy.
Making Jerusalem Jewish Again
This week we raised awareness of the organisation Ateret Cohanim, led by an Australia-born Daniel Luria. From the event post:
Australian-born Daniel Luria works for Ateret Cohanim, an Israeli organisation and yeshiva located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Founded in 1978, Ateret Cohanim works for the creation of a Jewish majority in the Old City and Arab neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem. It arranges for Jewish acquisition of Arab properties, a complex and sometimes dangerous undertaking, thus expanding the Jewish “footprint” in Jerusalem.
This is clearly in violation of international law and considered a UN violation. The organisation has come to the attention of the UN in the past.
The organisation encourages the construction of settlements in East Jerusalem, a Palestinian territory. UN Resolution 2334: December 23, 2016, condemned Israel’s construction of settlements in all territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem. If you want to understand who the organiser is, check this out: Louis Theroux – Ultra Zionists https://vimeo.com/253398748
The US, Israel, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1917-2020 by Jerome Slater
“In 1973, Abba Eban, the eloquent Israeli diplomat, said: “The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity,” an argument—better said, a myth—that was widely accepted and continues to have a huge impact on how the Arab-Israeli conflict has been understood in Israel, the United States, and most Western states. But that assessment was wrong then, and wrong since—if anything, the converse is close to being the case. One of the central purposes of this book, then, is to correct this myth, both in the interests of historical accuracy and in an effort to pave the way for policy changes in Israel and the United States.
The historical record, examined in detail in this book, demonstrates that it has been Israel, far more than the Palestinians and the leading Arab states, that has blocked fair compromise peace settlements.”
Excellent article by Antony Loewenstein detailing Australia’s terrible record of support of Israel despite blatant human rights abuses and the illegality of their actions. All the more reason why Australians need to actively pressure their politicians. Australia’s policies in relation to Israel adversely affect the lives of Palestinians.
“Australia is almost unique globally in its consistent support for Israel in diplomatic forums like the United Nations.”
Why is this the case? Why does the Australian government have an opinion regarding Israel that differs from almost every other country?
Nuclear terrorist Apartheid Israel existentially threatens the world but the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will shortly further place this serial war criminal rogue state and its supporters outside International Law and subject to global Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
Stephen Hawking: “We see great peril if governments and societies do not take action now to render nuclear weapons obsolete and to prevent further climate change”. The 24 October ratification by a 50th state, Honduras, of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) means that it will take effect from 22 January 2021, from which time the 9 nuclear terrorist states and 32 complicit states will be grossly violating International Law.
Key TPNW prohibitions are to: “(a). Develop, test, produce, manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess or stockpile nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices… (e). Assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Treaty”.
Estimates of stored nuclear weapons are as follows together with the population of each country: US (5,800-6,185; 331.6 million), Russia (6,372-6,490; 145.0 million), China (300-320; 1,439.3 million), France (290; 65.3 million), UK (200-215; 68.0 million), Pakistan (160; 222.3 million), India (150; 1,384.4 million), Apartheid Israel (90; Jewish Israeli population 6.7 million but ruling Palestine, total population 14.1 million), and North Korea (30-40; 25.8 million).
The relative moral depravity of the nuclear terrorist states is given by the ratio of “number of nuclear weapons” to “population in millions” : Russia (44.4), US (18.1), Apartheid Israel Jewish population (13.4), France (4.4), UK (3.1), North Korea (1.4), Pakistan (0.7), China (0.2), and India (0.1).
Under the extreme right-wing, serial war criminal and climate criminal Coalition, Australia opposes the TPNW, is deeply complicit in US and UK nuclear terrorism, is second only to America as a fervent supporter of nuclear terrorist Apartheid Israel, is among world leaders in 16 areas of climate criminality, and faces global Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). The Labor Opposition and the Greens support ratification of the TPNW.
