100 days on, the trauma has not dissipated
January 15, 2024 | Colin Rubenstein
For Israelis, October 7 was cataclysmic and transformational, like September 11, 2001 was for the US, only more so… These events left a collective and still unhealed scar on not just the seven million Jews of Israel, but Jews the world over.
‘From the River to the Sea’ is the Postmodern ‘Hep! Hep!’
January 11, 2024 | Aviva Winton
‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ is a new attempt to deny any Jewish claim to national self-determination in the land of Israel, to deny Jewish indigeneity in the land of Israel, despite our unbroken and documented presence on the land for almost 4,000 years, and ascribe indigeneity solely to another people.
The end of judicial reform, and the beginning of healing
January 4, 2024 | Ran Porat
This reform was aimed at reducing what right-wing supporters believed to be excessive powers held by the courts… However, for millions of Israelis, the suggested reform was seen as a direct attack on the fragile democratic structure of the Jewish state.
The Gaza War as seen from Southeast Asia
January 4, 2024 | Colin Rubenstein, Michael Shannon
The Hamas onslaught upon Israel on October 7 and the resulting military response by Israel prompted a wide range of responses across Southeast Asia.
The UN’s disgraceful response to Hamas massacre can’t go unchallenged
December 27, 2023 | Justin Amler
It should have been the easiest thing in the world to do — for the United Nations to unequivocally condemn the brutal and unprovoked Hamas terror attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, and led to the capture of more than 200.
No ceasefire can work unless Hamas disarms
December 19, 2023 | Colin Rubenstein
It should be obvious that the only way to achieve any such sustainable outcome is for the military pressure on Hamas to continue until it capitulates. Voting in favour of an UNGA resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” with no conditions on Hamas doesn’t advance Australian interests for such a “sustainable ceasefire”. It works against it.
Dismantling Hamas is vital to any hopes of Middle East peace
December 17, 2023 | Oved Lobel
Australia’s foreign policy goals can best be served by searching for ways to make sure the current Gaza war will end with Hamas’ rule dismantled rather than seeking to legitimise or strengthen Hamas in the utterly misguided hope it can somehow be moderated and converted into a genuine peace partner.
A one-state Israel-Palestine solution is a bad and dangerous idea
December 9, 2023 | Paul Rubenstein
Australian newspapers have published various articles calling for a “one-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which would supposedly fulfil the rights of both Jews and Palestinians. Let us pause there and note this is actually advocating dismantling the sovereign State of Israel, a member state of the United Nations for 75 years… This raises so many alarm bells for Jewish people like me it is hard to know where to start.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas will continue to divide us, unless we risk face-to-face discussion
December 5, 2023 | Ran Porat
When I had to teach classes a few days after the 7 October Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians living next to the Gaza Strip, I did not want to go to the university. I knew people who had lost loved ones — children, brothers, sisters, fathers, and mothers — in the slaughter.
A powerless Hamas is the only way this war will end
November 30, 2023 | Colin Rubenstein
An immediate, permanent ceasefire would therefore cost, not protect, innocent lives in the longer term. It would only defer those casualties until Hamas’ promised future rounds of warfare.
A permanent ceasefire now would be a victory for Hamas
November 29, 2023 | Justin Amler
A permanent ceasefire would be a terrible idea, at least for the time being. It would not end the conflict but prolong it. It would end up costing more lives, because it would effectively mean Hamas survives, and no longer has to fear Israeli action to prevent it repeating its attacks.
