Woodside-Leviathan deal moves ahead in a milestone for Australia-Israel ties
February 12, 2014 | Michael Thurin
AIJAC has previously reported on the proposed purchased by Australia’s Woodside Petroleum of a share in Israel’s Leviathan gas field development.
Finally after months of protracted negotiations, partners in Leviathan signing a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Woodside last Thursday, making it more likely than ever that the deal will go ahead. If it does, it will be a major milestone in Israeli-Australia relations, backed by governments on both sides.
Here is what you need to know about the deal and its implications.
Four Corners “Stone Cold Justice” – links to useful sources
February 11, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman
On February 10 ABC “Four Corners” broadcast an episode titled “Stone Cold Justice”, in cooperation with John Lyons from the Australian, which looked at Israel’s policies regarding the treatment of Palestinian minors arrested in the West Bank.
While the episode raises important issues regarding the treatment of Palestinian minors, the ABC’s report failed to provide adequate background and its approach was sensationalised and one-sided. In addition, Israel has already publicly committed to changing its practices as a UNICEF report in October 2013 confirmed, which the program only mentioned in passing.
We recommend that those interested in the problems with the ABC Four Corners report read the following sources…
Syria chemical weapons deal in difficulties
February 7, 2014
This Update is focussed on growing signs the Russia-brokered deal signed between Syria and the West last September may be faltering – after the Geneva conference on Syria last week failed to achieve any substantive progress. It also includes other material on the Syrian foreign policy problem.
We lead with a Washington Post editorial, complete with links, remonstrating with policymakers to do more about Syrian stalling on meeting its chemical weapons obligations.
Settlements: What Israeli lawyers really think
February 5, 2014 | Jamie Hyams
Contrary to the impression that might be given by some media reporting, there are many Israeli jurists who support the legality of Israel’s settlements.
Israeli home education system helps Australia’s Indigenous children
February 4, 2014 | Ahron Shapiro
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), an Israeli designed early learning program which has been operating in Australia, federally funded and under licence by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence since 1998, is back in the news.
The federal government has announced its latest expansion of the program, which has been making strides in improving the education of Indigenous children.
Scarjo stands up for SodaStream’s Palestinian workers
January 31, 2014 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
It is not unusual for Superbowl advertisements to spark controversy in America and around the world. This year, before it has even gone to air, an advert for SodaStream starring Scarlett “Scarjo” Johansson has caused considerable hysteria. …
Ordinarily, a leading Hollywood actress appearing in a Superbowl advertisement to promote a company that sells machines to carbonate water would seem unremarkable. SodaStream, however, happens to be Israeli. … After the BDS activists were riled up, it did not take long for Johansson’s position as an ambassador for global charity Oxfam to be thrown into the spotlight….
Assessing the prospects of success for the Syrian peace talks
January 24, 2014
This Update looks at the “Geneva II” indirect talks between representatives of Syria’s government and some opposition groups. The talks, to nobody’s surprise, have not started off well, and practically all analysts have doubted they will result in any meaningful outcome.
UN strikes expose Palestinian internal tensions
January 24, 2014 | Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz
To those who follow events in the West Bank, the reports coming out of the “refugee camps” administered by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) would sound quite familiar. ...
Indeed, the image of the refugees throwing stones at police and receiving tear gas in response has to some extent defined Israeli/Palestinian relations at least since the eruption of the First Intifada in 1987.
This incident however, has one caveat. … The police who were firing tear gas at, and apparently lobbing rocks back at, the protestors were Palestinian Authority police.
Interim Iranian nuclear deal coming into effect
January 17, 2014
Last weekend, Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany) reportedly reached agreement on technical arrangements to implement the interim “Joint Plan of Action” agreed on in Geneva in November to limit Iran’s nuclear work for six months in exchange for limited sanctions relief. While the details of the technical arrangements and timetable have not yet been released, and Iran says there is an informal 30-page document that has been agreed to, the actual Joint Plan of Action is now to go into effect from Monday, Jan. 20.
Debunking two myths about Ariel Sharon
January 15, 2014 | Allon Lee
The passing of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has rightly attracted numerous assessments of his legacy in the Australian media.
For the most part this has seen sensible, balanced and sober judgements, but as to be expected, some deceitful and distorted claims are being put forward as fact.
