Understanding Putin’s push into Syria
September 25, 2015
Today’s Update concentrates on the potentially game-changing Russian movement of forces into Syria, ostensibly to prop up the Assad regime in its battle against ISIS.
The problem with Jeremy Corbyn
September 22, 2015 | Sharyn Mittelman
Jeremy Corbyn, with his controversial history of calling terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah “friends”, and associating with known antisemites and Holocaust deniers, has become the leader of the British Labour party. Corbyn claims that his references to terrorists as “friends” was to promote peace and dialogue, yet many commentators have wondered whether he would call any Israeli Prime Minister his “friend”.
Incitement and tensions in east Jerusalem
September 22, 2015
Today’s Update looks at the main causes of the recent escalation in tension and violence in east Jerusalem and on the Temple Mount where Israeli police have faced off against Palestinian stone throwers and reported finding pipe bombs. The stone throwing claimed the life last week of 64-year-old Alexander Levlovich whose car was hit by a rock whilst he was driving in east Jerusalem.
AIJAC applauds Treasurer Joe Hockey for pursuing a Double Taxation Agreement between Australia and Israel
September 18, 2015 | AIJAC
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) applauds Federal Treasurer, The Hon Joe Hockey MP, on his announcement of the Government’s intention to commence negotiations on a new Double Taxation Agreement between Australia and Israel.
AIJAC’s National Chairman, Mark Leibler AC, spoke to Mr Hockey this morning to congratulate him on this move and to warmly welcome this important step.
Russia in Syria/Gambling on moderating Iran
September 17, 2015
This Update offers expert analysis of the increased military intervention of Russia in the Syrian civil war – both of the background to the Russian decision and the quandary it creates for Western policymakers.
‘Jihad against Jews’ – how our race hate laws have failed us
September 16, 2015 | Glen Falkenstein
It’s time to review our racial discrimination legislation, because as the failure to act against Hizb ut-Tahrir in NSW clearly shows, it’s not working, writes Glen Falkenstein.
Hay in needle-stacks: A Hero in Hebron
September 16, 2015 | Ari Wenig
Coming across something rare is often analogised as finding “a needle in a haystack”. And yet, this simile reflects the Israeli-Palestinian divide far more aptly when reversed. Finding acts of pure humanity in and amongst this deeply polarised, and often manic conflict, tends to be like searching for hay in a stack of needles; disheartening, dangerous.
Letter: Ill-conceived motion
September 7, 2015 | Colin Rubenstein
Wendy Turner writes in defence of the Queensland Labor conference motion to recognise a Palestinian state (Letters, 3/9). This motion is one-sided, ill-conceived and counter-productive. Motions such as this are detrimental to the cause of Middle East reconciliation…
Strengthening the Iran nuclear deal, without renegotiating it/ An important photo in the West Bank
September 4, 2015
Much of the ongoing debate about the Iranian nuclear deal in the US is being presented in partisan terms – Republicans versus Democrats, supporters of President Obama versus his critics. President Obama now seems to have the numbers to sustain a veto if the deal is rejected by Congress, as remains likely. Nonetheless, there appears to be an emerging consensus among informed commentators that, at a bare minimum, the deal needs to be strengthened with a number of measures that do not involve re-opening negotiations with the Iranians, but do require additional agreements and credible measures to ensure deterrence of Iranian cheating or other misbehaviour.
