Hypocrisy and the war in Gaza
January 9, 2009 | Bren Carlill
There has been a lot of hypocrisy in commentary about the current Hamas-Israeli violence. About 700 Palestinians – mostly Hamas combatants – have died since December 27, which is when most people think this conflict started. More people than that died in a shorter period of time when violence flared in Congo late last year. Where was the blanket coverage or the mass rallies? Are the Congolese less important than Palestinians?
Hamas has absolutely no interest in peace
January 9, 2009 | Colin Rubenstein
Much attention will surely be focused on the tragic incident at the school in Jabaliya, Gaza, which was caused when Israeli forces responded to Hamas mortars being fired from there. But we cannot lose sight of the historical realities that remain important to understanding the current fighting and possible ways forward.
Sorry history behind today’s violence
January 5, 2009 | Colin Rubenstein
AS we see the violent and often disturbing and tragic images from Gaza, it is important to remember what caused the present conflict.
Gaza: The case for Israel
December 30, 2008 | Bren Carlill
In warfare, as at any time, civilian deaths are horrible. That some innocent Palestinians have died in recent days in Gaza is tragic, but the blame must be laid fairly and squarely at the feet of Hamas.
Balance academic freedom with rights of students
December 22, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
The majority report’s politicised approach to the inquiry is disappointing as there are legitimate and serious issues regarding bias and intimidation at Australian universities that concern students, and should concern legislators of all political stripes.
Intelligent, politically skilled lady rises in Israel
September 23, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
A lawyer by training, Livni represents a fresh and promising face in Israeli politics. Importantly, she is untainted by any hint of corruption and her integrity is viewed as an important asset. This should allow her the opportunity to turn the page on the political and personal scandals of the recent past…
Obstacles to Israeli-Palestinian peace
September 16, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
For at least the last eight years – ever since the Camp David Summit in 2000 – the broad outlines of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement have been clearly known.
Cast out terror TV
September 12, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
HEZBOLLAH’S terrorist television station is once again being beamed into Australia. Al-Manar, translated as “the beacon”, has been called more accurately a beacon of hatred and violence. It is to be hoped that the Rudd Government and the Australian Communications and Media Authority are doing everything in their power to block the station.
World must act to stop Iran’s bomb
August 26, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
Enhanced sanctions are now necessary to bring Iran in line with legally binding UN resolutions and avert the spectre of a nuclear-armed Iran profoundly destabilising the Middle East.
Preventing a nuclear-armed Iran is the issue
July 24, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
IN the nuclear crisis with Iran, the focus of the international community must be to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons state, full stop. It is cavalier and dangerous to assume that we can “manage” the threats from a nuclear armed Iran by strategies such as deterrence.
Peace will elude us until Arab world accepts the reality of Israel
July 12, 2008 | Bren Carlill
The reason Israeli-Palestinian peace seems so elusive is one of simple rejectionism. Much of the Palestinian and wider Arab elite still fundamentally reject Israel’s right to exist.
Don’t downplay the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran
July 7, 2008 | Colin Rubenstein
THERE is international consensus that Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions pose a real and significant threat. Since 2003, the UN Security Council has passed three legally binding resolutions calling on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, while Britain, France and Germany have led negotiations with Iran to bring a halt to its nuclear program.
