Roadmap to a viable Palestine requires holding Abbas to account
September 29, 2025 | Bren Carlill
The problem is that Western recognition of the ‘State of Palestine’ rewards Palestinian promises, not Palestinian actions.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will be impotent to deliver on promises
September 29, 2025 | Bren Carlill
Anthony Albanese said that recognition was predicated on promises that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas made to him. But Mr Abbas has made these promises before. They weren’t implemented then, and they won’t be implemented now.
Palestinian recognition without reform is a dangerous illusion
September 26, 2025 | Colin Rubenstein
If, against all odds, Senator Wong and her peers somehow did succeed in forcing the PA to honour its commitments, the outcome could be transformative… And in that scenario, recognition could have real meaning. But history – and Palestinian polling – tells us it will not happen.
‘Choose the blessing, choose life’: Can we resist despair this Rosh Hashanah?
September 25, 2025 | Rabbi Ralph Genende
I am in despair because polarisation reigns. Black and white are the only colours. Simplistic thinking has pervaded our public spaces — it is also sadly evident in Israel and in many within the Jewish community.
Palestinian statehood would reward murder
September 22, 2025 | Justin Amler
“Palestine” fails on nearly all counts. It has no defined borders, no single government — only a corrupt Palestinian Authority controlling the Palestinian cities of the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and a terrorist Hamas regime in Gaza — and no real capacity for international relations when half its leadership is a proscribed terror group.
Path to recognition is as flawed as it’s always been
September 22, 2025 | Allon Lee
If world leaders who intend to recognise a Palestinian state had a better grasp on history, they would internalise that the same rejectionist positions by the PA that doomed Oslo are still in play.
A Rosh Hashanah reflection
September 21, 2025 | Rabbi Ralph Genende
We reflect on the lives wounded and lost in the past year. It has been another excruciatingly difficult year for the Jewish people confronted by an avalanche of antisemitism and an explosion of anti-Israelism.
Can hardliner narratives around Gaza be rewritten?
September 17, 2025 | Ran Porat
The only path forward is to move beyond hardliner narratives and construct a new, hopeful story. Rebuilding Gaza requires international support — Israel, the US, and Arab states must help foster a future based on human rights, prosperity, and peace. Instead of martyrdom, Gaza’s narrative must embrace freedom, life, and dignity.
Qatar does not deserve sympathy over Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders
September 17, 2025 | Jamie Hyams
The condemnation of Israel’s attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar is yet another example of the appalling double standards to which Israel is routinely subjected. The international community should instead be pressuring Qatar to end its support for Hamas and other pernicious activities.
Qatar is no impartial observer in this war, the nation is a backer of Hamas
September 12, 2025 | Allon Lee
Israel’s unexpected and bold surgical strike on a building in the Qatari capital of Doha where Hamas’ senior leadership was meeting has attracted the usual international flak.
Claims of ‘genocide’ and intentional starvation are used to wage war against Israel
September 5, 2025 | Justin Amler
Yes, there is hardship in Gaza — sometimes severe. But to blame Israel is to ignore reality. Hamas began this war. Hamas steals the aid. The UN own figures show 90% of aid trucks are looted.
Letter in the Canberra Times: Comparisons are hurtful, flawed and they cross a line
September 3, 2025 | Jamie Hyams
The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism has been adopted by 44 countries… Included in its examples of antisemitism are “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.” It should be self-evident that it is particularly hurtful to Jewish people, and completely baseless. Yet this is the entire basis of Mark Kenny’s appalling column…
