University of Melbourne exposes BDS’s lies and extremism
May 18, 2022 | Allon Lee
Greg Barns’ support for Melbourne University’s Student Union’s (UMSU) inflammatory April 29 resolution that the University subsequently condemned as antisemitic is concerning. His accusation that the University impinged on students’ freedom of speech is absurd given the motion’s extreme language.
Climate of concern over independent candidates
May 12, 2022 | Jamie Hyams
Of course, the Climate 200 candidates and staff are far from alone in this election when it comes to showing hostility to Israel or making inappropriate comments about Hitler. However, it is important to consider this history when deciding whether to vote for them or give financial support to Climate 200, especially given their potential to hold the balance of power.
The ABC cannot be allowed to bury its report into complaints handling until after the election
May 9, 2022 | Allon Lee, Colin Rubenstein
The ABC’s complaints unit, Audience & Consumer Affairs (ACA) – which claims to be independent from ABC management but is in reality entirely run in-house – investigated and dismissed complaints against the program.
Universities must not allow anti-semitism to stand
May 6, 2022 | Colin Rubenstein
The vast majority of Jewish students will no doubt feel deeply betrayed that the student union supposed to represent them could pass a motion so appalling and so antithetical to their core values.
Pre-election extremism from the Greens
April 29, 2022 | Naomi Levin
The Australian public, and especially voters, should take this new radical Greens stance on Israel, boycotts, and the Palestinians into consideration in all interactions with the party.
An unprecedented summit highlights a changing Middle East
April 27, 2022 | Ahron Shapiro
As recently as June 2020, none of the UAE, Bahrain or Morocco had diplomatic relations with Israel. What happened at the historic meeting held in Sde Boker – the homestead and final resting place of Israel’s visionary first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion – is part of a dramatic regional realignment.
Next up: A nuclear Iran
March 8, 2022 | Colin Rubenstein
The US, together with Russia, China and the Europeans, are said to be finalising a virtually pointless, short-term deal that will remove sanctions from Iran and soon legitimise it as a nuclear armed state and regional powerhouse.
Iran’s hard bargaining looks set to deliver a dangerous deal for international security
February 25, 2022 | Ran Porat
The eighth round of negotiations to resurrect the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA), which resumed in Vienna in mid-February, is looking likely to be the decisive one.
Amnesty’s Israel ‘apartheid’ report sets back Palestinians’ struggle
February 9, 2022 | Colin Rubenstein
Unfortunately, this Palestinian “success” with Amnesty will not only likely damage the standing of a once widely respected human rights NGO, but set back, rather than advance, hopes for Palestinians to achieve their legitimate aspirations.
‘Apartheid’ accusation against Israel puts NGOs on road to irrelevance
February 7, 2022 | Ahron Shapiro
The apartheid smear against Israel is absurd, but it’s important to recognise how beating the apartheid drum cynically serves the political ends of the NGOs and the boycotters, like two sides of the same coin.
Israel boycott bandwagon fails to see functioning democracy
January 13, 2022 | Jamie Hyams
It’s no surprise to see Greg Barns back on the Boycott Israel bandwagon, making false and easily disprovable claims of Israel being an Apartheid state to justify his support for the insidious Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against the Sydney Festival.
Misguided representation of Israeli-Palestinian relations has no place in our society
January 7, 2022 | Colin Rubenstein
The Australian campaign to shut doors to Naharin, rather than embrace a potential ally for Palestinian rights, says far more about the blinding, destructive obsessive animosity guiding the BDS campaign than about Israel’s alleged failings towards Palestinians. It is a deeply offensive obsession which has no place amidst the celebration of artistic creativity and diversity that the Sydney Festival represents. Patrons of the arts deserve better than the bullies of BDS.
