Vote won’t end family unification controversy
July 12, 2021 | Ahron Shapiro
On June 6, the Israeli Government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett failed to pass a compromise that would have extended Israel’s Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, commonly known as the “family unification law”, a piece of legislation that, among other things, effectively places curbs on the automatic granting of Israeli citizenship or Israeli residency to citizens of enemy states or the West Bank and Gaza.
Brutal new Iranian President raises major policy questions
July 6, 2021 | Oved Lobel
Biden’s Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement in February entitled “Putting Human Rights at the Center of US Foreign Policy,” the title of which reflects the ostensible approach of the Administration to foreign affairs. Will the new US Administration be happy to directly engage with Raisi, a mass murderer accused of crimes against humanity, especially given its own sanctions against him?
The LaRouchites latch on to Australia Post
July 6, 2021 | Judy Maynard
The obscure and conspiracy theory-peddling Australian Citizens Party (ACP) recently featured in one of our national broadcaster’s highest profile news programs. How it came to spend this brief and unaccustomed time in the limelight gives a glimpse into the party’s machinations.
German experience can inform Australia’s next move on Hezbollah
June 30, 2021 | Naomi Levin
There is no timeline in place for the Australian Government to consider the PJCIS’ recommendation on Hezbollah. However, the committee has requested that the Department of Home Affairs and other relevant agencies provide classified feedback on their considerations about moving to proscribe all of Hezbollah, preferably within three months. The German experience should certainly be considered by the Department as it prepares any such feedback.
Iranian online Jew-hatred likely fed international wave of antisemitism
June 19, 2021 | Oved Lobel
While antisemitism is a pervasive problem that long predates the Iranian regime, which is but one of its many champions – although likely its most active and open state promoter – there is enough circumstantial evidence to suggest that its social media incitement campaigns are playing a role in the recent spike in attacks against Jews in the US and perhaps elsewhere.
Australian Government shows seriousness about accountability for Palestinian aid
June 16, 2021 | Naomi Levin
The Australian Government told a Senate estimates hearing last week that it has sought assurances that funding provided to rebuild Gazan buildings damaged in the most recent conflict will not be commandeered by Hamas to use for military purposes. This is the latest in a series of accountability measures that have been prioritised by the Australian Government with respect to its Palestinian aid program.
Naftali Bennett’s views on Palestinian state more nuanced than reported
June 16, 2021 | Ahron Shapiro
With Australians waking up on June 14 to the news that Naftali Bennett had replaced Binyamin Netanyahu as Israel’s prime minister, local news outlets were left with the task of providing Australians with a profile of Bennett, an Israeli politician who is hardly a household name here.
Al Jazeera thanked by Hamas for “exemplary coverage,” as reporter’s story of Jerusalem arrest appears to be debunked
June 11, 2021 | Judy Maynard and AIJAC staff
The Al Jazeera TV network just received a certificate of appreciation for its “exemplary coverage” of the recent Israel-Hamas conflict, according to Israeli media reports.
Increasing IAEA warnings about Iran
June 8, 2021 | Ran Porat and Oved Lobel
Grossi and the IAEA are making it clear that Iran is enriching uranium to a degree only useful for nuclear weapons, accumulating new capabilities rapidly, and stonewalling IAEA inspectors by obstructing routine monitoring as well as refusing to answer questions about the IAEA’s discovery of material that suggests Iran has been lying to the agency all along.
