Crowds march in Turkey and Jordan. Angry reaction from Arab states is joined by harsh criticism and calls for an explanation or investigation from the U.N. and the European Union.
Los Angeles Times, May 31, 2010
About 10,000 Turkish demonstrators marched from Israel’s Consulate in Istanbul toward the city’s main square Monday after Israeli forces killed at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists and wounded dozens aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla.
The protesters earlier Monday tried storm the Consulate building but were blocked by police. They set Israeli flags on fire as television stations broadcast the protest live.
Continue reading ‘Israeli action widely condemned’
By Jeff Halper, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 April 2009
A funny thing happened to me on my way to synagogue in Sydney; my scheduled talk was cancelled.
Granted, I am very critical of Israel’s policies of occupation and doubt whether a two-state solution is still possible given the extent of Israel’s settlements. But this hardly warrants the demonisation to which I was subjected for weeks in the pages of the otherwise respectable Australian Jewish News.
The uproar caused by the prospect of my speaking to the Jewish community in Australia is truly startling to an Israeli. After all, opinions similar to mine are readily available in the mainstream Israeli media. Indeed, I write frequently for the Israeli press and appear regularly on Israeli TV and radio.
Why, then, the hysteria? Why was I banned from Temple Emanuel in Sydney, a self-proclaimed progressive synagogue. Why did I, an Israeli, have to address the Jewish community from a church? Why was I invited to speak in every university in eastern Australia, yet at Monash University I was forced to hold a secret meeting with Jewish faculty in a darkened room far from the halls of intellectual discourse?
Continue reading ‘Diaspora Jewry needs to let go of idealised Israel’
The text below appeared as an editorial in the largest selling newspaper in Sydney, Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald on 13 March 2009. JAO-Sydney places the text here, not necessarily because we agree with it, but rather to demonstrate that actions attempting to stifle and censor debate on issues related to the Israel/Palestine conflict can only harm.
Israel is a democracy. It contains many political parties with a wide spectrum of views about how to approach the great issue of an eventual Palestinian settlement, as well as many more mundane policies. It has human rights groups which put the Israeli security forces under as intense and critical a scrutiny as any overseas counterpart. It has law professors who debate the legality of Israeli settlements and military operations in the West Bank and Gaza. But sometimes you wouldn’t suspect this from the actions and attitudes of its most prominent defenders abroad.
Here in Australia, we’ve just learnt that the respected Australian Jewish News has rejected advertisements that promote a speaking tour by Israeli professor Jeffrey Halper, who campaigns against the bulldozing of Palestinian homes. Sydney’s progressive Emanuel Synagogue has also cancelled a talk by the professor, because some people objected to what he would have said.
The newspaper’s publisher, Robert Magid, said he pulled the ads because he “doesn’t like” the promoters, three local groups called Jews Against the Occupation, Independent Australian Jewish Voices, and the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine. According to Mr Magid, they “use their Judaism to bash other Jews and issues associated with the Jewish community”. Maybe it’s because criticism that can’t be easily shrugged off as ill-informed or even as anti-Semitic is harder to answer.
Continue reading ‘Sydney Morning Herald Editorial: With friends like these …’
The Emanuel Synagogue Woollahra has rescinded its invitation to Israeli peace activist, Professor Jeff Halper, to speak at the synagogue on 23rd March. This follows the axing by the Australian Jewish News of an advertisement for Professor Halper’s other meetings in Sydney.
Professor Halper is Coordinator of the Israeli Committee against Housing Demolitions (ICAHD).
Vivienne Porzsolt, a spokesperson for Jews Against the Occupation – Sydney said: “It is regrettable that yet once again the power brokers of the Jewish community are seeking to block open discussion about Israel.”
Continue reading ‘JAO-Sydney Statement: Noxious culture of silence in the Jewish community’
Andrew West, 12 March 2009
Sydney Morning Herald
A leading Jewish publication stands accused of censorship after cancelling an advertisement for a series of lectures to be delivered by a visiting Israeli human rights campaigner.
The publisher of The Australian Jewish News, Robert Magid, confirmed that he had pulled an ad promoting the speaking tour of Jeffrey Halper, a Jewish Israeli professor who campaigns against the bulldozing of Palestinian homes.
Continue reading ‘Academic’s visit divides Jewish groups’
The Australian Jewish News has axed advertisements for the Australian lecture tour by Professor Jeff Halper of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions. The National Editor of the Australian Jewish News, Ashley Browne said: “at the request of the publisher we will not accept the advertisements from Jews Against the Occupation.”
Jews Against the Occupation – Sydney is one of a number of groups in Australia supporting Professor Halper’s tour. Vivienne Porzsolt, a spokesperson for the group says: “We are very concerned that the one press medium for the whole Australian Jewish community has taken this action. Yet again, a Jewish leader is seen to be stifling debate on Israel.”
“This is in contrast to the vigorous debate on these issues in Israel.”
Continue reading ‘JAO-Sydney Statement: Australian Jewish News axes advertisement for Israeli peace activist’
The following article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 11 November 2008 and outlines the decision of the Australian government to vote in favour of United Nations resolutions (along with the vast majority of the world) against the illegal expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories and calling for the application of the Geneva conventions in the Occupied Territories. During the previous right-wing government led by John Howard, Australia mimicked US positions on Middle East issues and refused to criticise the Israeli government in even the mildest of statements. JAO-Sydney welcomes the change in Australian government policy and hopes this signals a deeper and more independent position with regard to Israel-Palestine. While some members of the Jewish community in Australia (as indicated in the article below) may seek to marginalise this decision or question the motives of the government, this is not the view of JAO-Sydney, nor any person concerned with a just and peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine problem.
Israel votes ’stem from need for peace’
by Phillip Coorey, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 November 2008
THE Government’s decision to join most of the world and vote against Israel on two United Nations resolutions was motivated by a desire to keep the peace process alive and not the need for votes for Australia’s Security Council bid.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, told Parliament Australia switched positions during a vote on the weekend because it allowed the best opportunity for a two-nation solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
“This Government will do nothing to jeopardise our longstanding public policy and foreign policy commitment to a two nation state solution for the Middle East,” Mr Smith said.
Continue reading ‘A return to the centre: Australia votes with rest of the world on UN Israel motions’
The members of Jews Against the Occupation-Sydney feel there is little to celebrate or cause for joy when considering contemporary events in Israel/Palestine. No matter what day of the year.
Continue reading ‘Australia and The Israel Motion Debate: A Lost Opportunity’
by Angela Budai, 14 March 2008
It’s been a hard week to be on the left in the Jewish community.
The issue is Israel. The Middle East.
I have a connection to Israel – I spent 12 months there after finishing high school on an AZYC program. I worked in Jerusalem, Haifa and on a Kibbutz in the Negev. I travelled around, saw the country, and met the people. I experienced life where being Jewish was the norm not the exception. It was great. I believe that Israel is important to my people.
Continue reading ‘Misrepresenting opposition on all sides’
By Joseph Wakim, 14 March 2008, Adelaide Advertiser
IT is eerily ironic that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd can move a motion to restore the dignity of Australia’s indigenous people then, exactly one month later, move a motion that may inadvertently undermine the dignity of another indigenous people. Indeed, the sorry speech on February 13 for the stolen generation was honourable because it lay bare the facts of “this blemished chapter of our nation’s history”.
Continue reading ‘Now it’s time for Israel to say sorry’
