In defence of Ambassador Dave Sharma

In defence of Ambassador Dave Sharma

February 23, 2017 | Gareth Narunsky

On February 7, Australia-based online news site Crikey asked the question “Does DFAT support Israeli settlements?” The short piece essentially attacks Australia’s Ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma, for “his support for the Israeli Government” and for “working with a group that actively promotes the key threat [which is settlements according to the article] to the two-state solution”.

Livestream of Netanyahu-Turnbull community event

Livestream of Netanyahu-Turnbull community event

February 22, 2017

The communal event taking place in Sydney at 6:00 pm with the Prime Minister of Israel, His Excellency Benjamin Netanyahu and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, will be live streamed on the web.

Will they? Won't they? The ongoing Israeli/American Iran question

Have Netanyahu and Trump backed away from the two-state peace paradigm?

February 16, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro

There has been much confusion over what was and what wasn’t said at the press conference between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Washington DC yesterday.

However, upon closer examination of the press conference and comments made afterwards, it seems likely that they are both, quite deliberately and intentionally, leaving the door open for a peace based on a two-state outcome – while pressuring the Palestinians to come to the table.

On construction within settlements

On construction within settlements, Israel maintains policy

February 14, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro

In a follow-up to my previous blog on Israel’s West Bank settlements from late last month, I examine a second round of approvals for around 3,000 more housing units in the settlements that was announced approximately a week later.

What’s of particular note is that, although this announcement from January 31, like the previous one from January 24, occurred after the inauguration of Donald Trump, it remained consistent with Israel’s settlement policy for over a decade – largely avoiding significant expansion of construction in settlements outside of the settlement blocs Israel is expected to retain in any future peace agreement through the use of land swaps with the Palestinians.

 

Freedom in the World 2017: Israel a leader in a dismal and worsening Middle East region

Freedom in the World 2017: Israel a leader in a dismal and worsening Middle East region

February 8, 2017 | Shmuel Levin

The US based Freedom House think-tank has released the initial findings of its annual Freedom in the World report. The report analyses the state of political and civil freedoms, as well as the state of governance frameworks, in each country around the world, based upon a “combination of on-the-ground research, consultations with local contacts, and information from news articles, nongovernmental organizations, governments, and a variety of other sources.”

When historical facts become unacceptable - the effects of UNESCO Resolutions on Jerusalem

When historical facts become unacceptable – the effects of UNESCO Resolutions on Jerusalem

February 2, 2017 | Shmuel Levin

“It’s clear as the sun is clear that the Temple [in Jerusalem] which was demolished by the Romans, is a Jewish temple.”

Seems straightforward, doesn’t it?

Yet, in today’s post-truth world, such historical facts are no longer acceptable in some official Palestinian circles.

Fatah and Hamas announce unity - for at least the eighth time

Fatah and Hamas announce unity – for at least the eighth time

February 1, 2017 | Shmuel Levin

In recent weeks, much has been reported about a proposed Fatah-Hamas unity government. “Fatah and Hamas to form unity government” reads the headline from Al-Jazeera. However, this headline falls short on two accounts. First, this new reconciliation attempt is only the latest of multiple similar reconciliation attempts – we count eight previous times in all, below. Second, it is very unclear that any real and meaningful reconciliation agreement has in fact been reached this time round.

How the Middle East has reacted to Trump

How the Middle East has reacted to Trump

January 27, 2017 | Shmuel Levin

President Trump’s first days in office have been met with a wide range of responses from Israel and the broader Middle East.

ABC crosses the line on settlements again

ABC crosses the line on settlements again

January 27, 2017 | Ahron Shapiro

Over the course of several years, I’ve blogged on several occasions about how the Australian media has exaggerated on a variety of issue related Israeli settlements in the West Bank (see here, here and here). Now, the ABC has provided some classic examples of such distortion with recent stories and an analysis piece that appeared on their website in recent days.

Hanan Ashrawi's problems with truth and consistency

Hanan Ashrawi’s problems with truth and consistency

January 13, 2017 | Gareth Narunsky

Last year, I accompanied a group of journalists on a study tour of Israel and the West Bank. One of our engagements was a meeting in Ramallah with Palestinian spokeswoman and founder of the organisation Miftah, Hanan Ashrawi.

Australia and historical revisionism at Turtle Bay

Australia and historical revisionism at Turtle Bay

December 13, 2016 | Allon Lee

Over many decades, Australian governments, of both political persuasions have shown great leadership in looking at the merits of United Nations General Assembly resolutions, opposing or abstaining on the most pernicious and one-sided anti-Israel ones, rather than falling into line with the majority.

So it is disappointing that one resolution called “Jerusalem” (A/RES/71/25), which cries out for Australia to vote “no”, has seen us choosing to abstain.

 

 

'Palestinian children' petition just more Israel-bashing

‘Palestinian children’ petition just more Israel-bashing

December 9, 2016 | Ahron Shapiro

A recent Parliamentary petition regarding the Israel Defence Force’s handling of arrests of Palestinian minors is fundamentally wrong for its misleading allegations and its self-serving omissions, but especially because it exploits Palestinian youth for political gain.

This is ironic, because it represents another form of immoral exploitation of Palestinian youth – that of the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank – that motivates the youth involved to commit the violence that gets them arrested in the first place.

 

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