The State of the War against ISIS/ Israel’s primaries
January 16, 2015
This Update begins with two good analyses of the state of the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. It also features a look at the latest developments in the Israeli election campaign – with primaries having taken place in the three major parties, setting up the March 17 contest.
Charlie Hebdo, French laws against hate speech, and 18C
January 15, 2015 | Sharyn Mittelman
The Paris shootings saw millions march in the streets defending freedom including freedom of speech. However, in Australia the debate appears to have been hijacked by some who argue that in Australia, one cannot say “Je suis Charlie” in defence of freedom of speech while supporting section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. However, before such proponents claim that 18C means that Australia does not have free speech, perhaps they should have a closer look at the legal situation in France, which has considerably tougher laws against hate speech than Australia – yet Charlie Hebdo was able to operate just fine in that legal environment.
More on the aftermath of recent events in France
January 15, 2015
This Update contains more important and penetrating analysis of recent events in France, including not only the Charlie Hebdo massacre last Wednesday which was the subject of the last Update, but the subsequent killing of four people at a Paris kosher supermarket on Friday and the massive solidarity rallies in France on Sunday in response to both attacks.
In France, the writing is on the wall
January 14, 2015 | Ahron Shapiro
The increasingly fraught situation facing the half-million Jews remaining in France – exemplified by the January 9 terror attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris that killed four Jews – did not come about overnight, but has rather been building over time.
The Charlie Hebdo Massacre and France’s Islamism problem
January 9, 2015
This Update is devoted to just a few of the most interesting of the many comments being made around the world in the wake of the horrifying massacre of 12 people at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday, with victims including not only the editor, but several well-known French cartoonists and other journalists. (An eyewitness account from journalist Claire Berlinski, who happened by chance to arrive on the scene in the immediate aftermath, is here.)
Palestinians follow-up unsuccessful UNSC bid by joining ICC
January 8, 2015
As readers will be aware, a Jordanian-sponsored but Palestinian authored proposal to the UN Security Council failed to get the necessary 9 affirmative votes on Dec. 30 (the text of the Palestinian proposal – which demands an Israeli withdrawal to the pre-1967 armistice lines within three years regardless of whether or not peace is agreed – is here), and the Palestinian Authority followed up this failure by signing up “Palestine” as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in an apparent effort to initiate or threaten to initiate war crimes claims against Israeli political and military leaders. This Update looks at these developments and their implications.
Overseas comment on Martin Place and lone wolf terror/ UNSC ructions
December 19, 2014
With the extensive focus in Australia on the Martin Place attack on a Lindt coffee shop in Sydney by disgruntled Iranian immigrant and self-styled Sheik Man Haron Monis, this Update features some overseas comment on the incident – as well as what it says about the growing problem of “lone wolf” violence inspired by calls for individual attacks from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It also includes some analysis of the intense diplomacy this week over a Palestinian plan to put forward a UN Security Council Resolution demanding Israel unilaterally withdraw to the pre-1967 armistice lines within two years.
Media Week – Saikal of nonsense returns; Holey history; Hamas-free TV
December 19, 2014 | Allon Lee
In the Canberra Times (Dec. 6), ANU Professor Amin Saikal resorted to factual distortions to frame Israel as a belligerent preventing peace.
Hamas removed from EU list of terror groups, temporarily?
December 19, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
On Wednesday, the General Court of the European Union (EU) in Luxembourg accepted a petition by Hamas to remove the group from the EU’s list of terrorist organisations. The Court emphasised that its judgment was based on legal technical and procedural reasons, arguing the reasons given for Hamas’ designation were based on media and internet reports and not considered analysis by “competent authorities”.
Settlement spin: A tale of two stories
December 19, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
When it comes to stories in the international media reporting data about Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the subcontracting by reporters of their research to the left-wing NGO and anti-settlement lobby group Peace Now has been routine. But can Peace Now be trusted to provide reporters with a fair and impartial reading of the actual settlement data?
A comparison of two recent news items may provide the answer.
