The silver anniversary of the silver bullet
July 29, 2025 | Bren Carlill
July 25 marked the 25th anniversary of the breakdown of the Camp David talks, which were supposed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. The terrible situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the need for peace. However, if we want to achieve that peace, we need to learn the lessons of Camp David and the last 25 years.
Diaspora Iranians hope for more attention to the plight of the Iranian people
July 24, 2025 | Alana Schetzer
What are Iranians saying in the aftermath of the highly successful Israeli and US military strikes against the Iranian regime’s illegal nuclear weapons program, including the elimination of multiple top military commanders?
Why Labor risks making the wrong call on Palestine recognition
July 31, 2025 | Bren Carlill
Premature recognition is short-sighted and self-defeating, regardless of the motivations for doing it.
The difficult but correct alternative is continuing to insist that the foundations for peace are properly established – as the Prime Minister has suggested in some of his recent comments. First, Hamas rule over Gaza must end. Second is Palestinian societal recognition of Israel’s permanence. Third is a Palestinian Authority that is both economically and politically viable.
Politically expedient shortcuts will make the situation worse.
Letter in The Age: Blame not so simple
July 29, 2025 | Jamie Hyams
Regarding Sean Kelly, the Geneva Conventions allow the blocking of aid if the enemy is stealing or using it. Kelly cites a New York Times story denying Hamas is doing so, but a Washington Post report set out in detail how Hamas is in financial crisis because Israel has stopped it taxing aid, or stealing and selling it.
Prolonging Gaza’s suffering, one ill-advised statement at a time
July 24, 2025 | Colin Rubenstein
This week’s statement called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” and a return to the old UN-dominated aid system for Gaza, which Hamas exploited routinely in order to maintain itself in power and keep the war going. Both can only benefit Hamas – not the longer-term interests of Gaza’s civilians.
Nine reasons premature recognition would be bad for Palestine
May 28, 2025 | Bren Carlill
France and Saudi Arabia are co-hosting a UN conference this month about creating a Palestinian state. Before or during the conference, France will likely recognise Palestine as a state, and is urging other countries to join it. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong keeps indicating she is considering similar recognition.
Biblio File: Israel and the pathologies of the West
May 28, 2025 | Peter Berkowitz
In On Democracies and Death Cults: Israel and the Future of Civilization, Douglas Murray excoriates the Western hypocrisy, mendacity and malignancy that fuel enthusiasm for Hamas’ butchery of Jewish civilians and antipathy toward Israel’s exercise of its right to self-defence.
Scribblings: Interpreting Hamas’ casualty numbers
May 28, 2025 | Tzvi Fleischer
The Hamas statistics show that combat-age men are far more likely to be killed, compared to their proportion of the population, than women, children or the elderly. Hamas data doesn’t differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the only sensible explanation for these numbers is that Israel is doing its best to target combatants.
