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Media Matters: Smoke and Ire over IHRA
Of course, the IHRA definition clearly states that “criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic.” But you wouldn’t necessarily know this if you relied on the bulk of the commentariat favoured by the ABC, Guardian Australia and Nine Newspapers.
Read MoreAIJAC calls UK’s Palestine recognition plans “counter-productive”; commends Australia’s more responsible approach
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today denounced the plans announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday to recognise “Palestine” in September unless Israel took substantive steps to end the war in Gaza, and promised to promote a two-state resolution.
Read MoreThe silver anniversary of the silver bullet
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.
Read MoreFast Facts: PM Albanese’s claims about Gaza and international law
This AIJAC quick analysis corrects misrepresentations or misunderstandings of international law which appear to have been made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on ABC-TV “Insiders” on July 27.
Read More‘We cannot deny Hamas’ role in this’: Joel Burnie on Sky News
AIJAC’s Joel Burnie discusses Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent condemnation of Israel. “I’ll sum it up … obviously it’s disappointing, but it’s not unexpected and it’s been a continuation of the policy since essentially October 7, 2023,” Mr Burnie told Sky News host Danica De Giorgio.
Read MoreAIJAC: PM Albanese’s statement on Gaza very disappointing, risks exacerbating the situation
AIJAC Executive Director Dr Colin Rubenstein said, “It is a disturbing that Prime Minister Albanese is so reliant for his views on the situation in Gaza on misleading, self-serving Hamas propaganda, albeit relayed through compliant anti-Israel UN agencies. At a time when all mediators agree that Hamas is the obstacle to a ceasefire agreement which…
Read MoreDiaspora Iranians hope for more attention to the plight of the Iranian people
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?
Read MoreProlonging Gaza’s suffering, one ill-advised statement at a time
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.
Read MoreFast Facts: Violence in Syria, and Israel’s intervention
After a Druze individual was attacked en route to Damascus on July 12, violence erupted in and around the predominantly Druze city of Suweida, in southern Syria. What started as tit-for-tat kidnapping and violence between Druze and Bedouins became mass violence, with Syrian Government and Bedouin forces from across the country involved in massacres. The violence also brought about an Israeli intervention in defence of the Druze. By July 20, a ceasefire seemed to be holding, though approximately 1,100 people were reportedly killed during the week, including almost 200 who were killed in ‘field executions’.
Read MoreCall for ceasefire wilfully ignores realities of Gaza conflict
The statement was not only highly critical of Israel but bereft of any value in solving the ongoing Gaza war, or ending the suffering that results from it. It demonstrated once again the profound lack of understanding of the Middle East or the Hamas-Israel conflict that has become all too common in this country.
Read MoreAIJAC rejects joint statement on Gaza as “badly misguided and deeply counter-productive”
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today rejected the joint statement by Australia and 27 other Western countries on the “Occupied Palestinian Territories” as badly misguided and deeply counter-productive to the very aims these countries seek.
Read MoreAIJAC deeply disappointed by linkage of antisemitism plan decision to upcoming Islamophobia report
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) today expressed its deep disappointment at statements from Education Minister Jason Clare regarding Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism, apparently linking the Government’s response to it to a forthcoming report on Islamophobia.
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