AI
Monday, July 05, 2010 10:56:08 PM
Good to see questioning. Not sure exactly of the situation here. Australia is, of course, a huge friend of Israel, too.
BITS AND PIECES
Australian Ahmed Luqman, http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/06/07/2920759.htm
was lucky to escape alive, whereas American Furkan Dogan ..
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch/Detail/?ots591=4888caa0-b3db-1461-98b9-e20e7b9c13d4&lng=en&id=118135
was tragically killed.
Ex-Australian PM Kevin Rudd was unequivocal
http://www.theage.com.au/world/gaza-attack-rudd-demands-investigation-20100531-wrae.html?autostart=1
in his stand on the gruesome Israeli flotilla attack. I suppose Gillard
supported Rudd's stand, though cannot find a comment of hers on it.
On Gillard and Israel ..
Jewish groups query claims that Julia Gillard is soft on Isreal
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/jewish-groups-query-claims-over-gillard/story-e6frg6nf-1225885900249
Gillard Israeli trip rankles party MPs .. excerpt ..
http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillards-israel-trip-rankles-party-mps-20090614-c7g5.html
Ms Gillard said it was hardly surprising that there was a range of views on the issue.
"There's obviously a debate, a very real debate about matters in the Middle East, and so I
suppose a politician's visit ... is going to be remarked upon," Ms Gillard told ABC television.
Labor were "strong friends and supporters" of Israel, she said.
The party strongly supported "a two-state solution, with secure borders
to recognise the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people".
"That will be my message in Israel," she said.
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-defends-israel-trip-20090621-cs9n.html
.. excerpt ..
Israel to Gillard: thanks for standing by us
JASON KOUTSOUKIS, JERUSALEM
June 24, 2009
Julia Gillard and Peter Costello
rekindle the eternal flame at
Jerusalem's Yad Vashem
Holocaust museum.
Before she even arrived in Jerusalem for the Australia-Israel leadership forum, Deputy
Prime Minister Julia Gillard had made a lasting impression on local powers that be.
In front of an elite audience of Israeli politicians, academics and cultural figures at a
dinner at the landmark King David Hotel, senior Israeli minister Isaac Herzog paid a
warm tribute to Ms Gillard for her support for Israel during the Gaza conflict in January.
"You stood almost alone on the world stage in support of Israel's right to defend itself,"
enthused Mr Herzog, an act of courage he said would never be forgotten by the people of Israel.
Ms Gillard was Acting Prime Minister when Israel launched a three-week offensive
against Hamas that resulted in the deaths of more than 1300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
At the time, Ms Gillard condemned Hamas for shelling southern Israel, but pointedly refused to
criticise Israel's response, although she did urge it to be "very mindful" of civilian casualties.
Mr Herzog, a personal friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and chairman of the Israel-Australia parliamentary association,
also thanked federal parliamentarians for passing a motion last year in support of Israel's 60th anniversary.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/israel-to-gillard-thanks-for-standing-by-us-20090623-cvcg.html
One other opinion .. note: Dowding was a Labor Premier.
What is Gillard’s Israel visit all about?
by former WA Premier Peter Dowding
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
No one should be surprised at the news that the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is hot footing it to Israel with some of the local press with a long track record for supporting the Israeli view of the Middle East. Which is basically?—?to paraphrase the Orwell line?—?“Israel good, Palestinians bad”.
US President Obama’s speech in Egypt and his insistence on some basic compliance by Israel with UN declarations has clearly wrong-footed Australia and angered the strong Israel lobby within the ALP.
Members like Michael Danby and others have made it their business to ensure that Australia’s foreign policy mirrored the worst of the shallowness of the Bush era which simply writes off those who believe in meeting Palestinian aspirations to live in some semblance of a homeland with some semblance of dignity, as ranting supporters of terrorism.
Of course there is a serious issue of the use of terrorism, but that applies to the terrorism from people with nothing left to lose as well as State terrorism. And for those in the Government who still do not understand the issues, Paul McGeough’s latest book Kill Khalid provides insight into the complete failure of all the major participants to move forward towards creating a just and lasting peace.
Our Foreign Policy has been very pro Israel?—?just look at the appalling silence when Israel, one of the strongest nuclear powers in the world, decimated the civilian population of Gaza where 1.5 million people live in a small area, trapped from any reasonable contact with the outside world.
The few ALP Caucus members who dare to hold the view that peace in the Middle East requires reigning in the unlawful Israeli occupations and demands that Palestinians be treated with some dignity have been warned not to go public but to keep any discussions about the policy in-house.
In the meantime, our foreign minister must be feeling very uncomfortable with the Obama play?—?it’s such a pity, as Australia could have used its position as an honest broker. Instead it hung on to the extreme Jewish lobby coattails and the Bush madness for too long.
So what’s the journey to Israel about? Assuring Israel that while we love the US we don’t agree with Obama and if we do get a seat on the Security Council we will look after Israeli interests?
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/06/09/what-is-gillards-israel-visit-all-about/
One other recent instance of a cooling in the Australia-Israeli relationship ..
Australia expels Israeli embassy official
MADELEINE COOREY .. May 24, 2010
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/australia-expels-israeli-embassy-official-20100524-w7oq.html
Then re both our countries, of course, there was the .. excerpts ..
On 3 November 2009, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution denouncing the report as "irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy." In contrast, the European Parliament passed a resolution endorsing the Goldstone report in March 2010, but by a narrow margin. The non-binding resolution called on the bloc's member states to "publicly demand the implementation of [the report's] recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes."
[...]
General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution calling for independent investigations to be conducted by Israel and Hamas on allegations of war crimes described in the Goldstone report. The resolution was passed by overwhelming numbers with 114 in favour and 18 against, and 44 abstentions. The resolution calls on the UN Secretary General to report to the General Assembly within three months "with a view to considering further action, if necessary, by the relevant United Nations organs and bodies", and to send the report to the Security Council. The resolution enjoyed wide support among the Non-Aligned Movement bloc and the Arab bloc that comprise a majority of 120 votes. Most developing countries voted in favor. The countries that voted against the resolution were: Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, the Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Poland, Slovakia, The Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and the United States. Some European countries, namely Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal, Malta, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland, voted in favor of the resolution. Other European countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Spain, abstained.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the vote showed that Israel has a "moral majority", adding: "[we] are pleased that 18 democratic 'premier league' states voted in line with Israel's position, while 44 South American and African states abstained".
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN stated that "the General Assembly sent a powerful message", adding that if Israelis do not comply, "we will go after them."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Fact_Finding_Mission_on_the_Gaza_Conflict#United_Nations
Sorry about the hodgeeep0g. It's the times. :)
BITS AND PIECES
Australian Ahmed Luqman, http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/06/07/2920759.htm
was lucky to escape alive, whereas American Furkan Dogan ..
http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/Security-Watch/Detail/?ots591=4888caa0-b3db-1461-98b9-e20e7b9c13d4&lng=en&id=118135
was tragically killed.
Ex-Australian PM Kevin Rudd was unequivocal
http://www.theage.com.au/world/gaza-attack-rudd-demands-investigation-20100531-wrae.html?autostart=1
in his stand on the gruesome Israeli flotilla attack. I suppose Gillard
supported Rudd's stand, though cannot find a comment of hers on it.
On Gillard and Israel ..
Jewish groups query claims that Julia Gillard is soft on Isreal
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/jewish-groups-query-claims-over-gillard/story-e6frg6nf-1225885900249
Gillard Israeli trip rankles party MPs .. excerpt ..
http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillards-israel-trip-rankles-party-mps-20090614-c7g5.html
Ms Gillard said it was hardly surprising that there was a range of views on the issue.
"There's obviously a debate, a very real debate about matters in the Middle East, and so I
suppose a politician's visit ... is going to be remarked upon," Ms Gillard told ABC television.
Labor were "strong friends and supporters" of Israel, she said.
The party strongly supported "a two-state solution, with secure borders
to recognise the needs and aspirations of the Palestinian people".
"That will be my message in Israel," she said.
http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-defends-israel-trip-20090621-cs9n.html
.. excerpt ..
Israel to Gillard: thanks for standing by us
JASON KOUTSOUKIS, JERUSALEM
June 24, 2009
Julia Gillard and Peter Costello
rekindle the eternal flame at
Jerusalem's Yad Vashem
Holocaust museum.
Before she even arrived in Jerusalem for the Australia-Israel leadership forum, Deputy
Prime Minister Julia Gillard had made a lasting impression on local powers that be.
In front of an elite audience of Israeli politicians, academics and cultural figures at a
dinner at the landmark King David Hotel, senior Israeli minister Isaac Herzog paid a
warm tribute to Ms Gillard for her support for Israel during the Gaza conflict in January.
"You stood almost alone on the world stage in support of Israel's right to defend itself,"
enthused Mr Herzog, an act of courage he said would never be forgotten by the people of Israel.
Ms Gillard was Acting Prime Minister when Israel launched a three-week offensive
against Hamas that resulted in the deaths of more than 1300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.
At the time, Ms Gillard condemned Hamas for shelling southern Israel, but pointedly refused to
criticise Israel's response, although she did urge it to be "very mindful" of civilian casualties.
Mr Herzog, a personal friend of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and chairman of the Israel-Australia parliamentary association,
also thanked federal parliamentarians for passing a motion last year in support of Israel's 60th anniversary.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/israel-to-gillard-thanks-for-standing-by-us-20090623-cvcg.html
One other opinion .. note: Dowding was a Labor Premier.
What is Gillard’s Israel visit all about?
by former WA Premier Peter Dowding
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
No one should be surprised at the news that the Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard is hot footing it to Israel with some of the local press with a long track record for supporting the Israeli view of the Middle East. Which is basically?—?to paraphrase the Orwell line?—?“Israel good, Palestinians bad”.
US President Obama’s speech in Egypt and his insistence on some basic compliance by Israel with UN declarations has clearly wrong-footed Australia and angered the strong Israel lobby within the ALP.
Members like Michael Danby and others have made it their business to ensure that Australia’s foreign policy mirrored the worst of the shallowness of the Bush era which simply writes off those who believe in meeting Palestinian aspirations to live in some semblance of a homeland with some semblance of dignity, as ranting supporters of terrorism.
Of course there is a serious issue of the use of terrorism, but that applies to the terrorism from people with nothing left to lose as well as State terrorism. And for those in the Government who still do not understand the issues, Paul McGeough’s latest book Kill Khalid provides insight into the complete failure of all the major participants to move forward towards creating a just and lasting peace.
Our Foreign Policy has been very pro Israel?—?just look at the appalling silence when Israel, one of the strongest nuclear powers in the world, decimated the civilian population of Gaza where 1.5 million people live in a small area, trapped from any reasonable contact with the outside world.
The few ALP Caucus members who dare to hold the view that peace in the Middle East requires reigning in the unlawful Israeli occupations and demands that Palestinians be treated with some dignity have been warned not to go public but to keep any discussions about the policy in-house.
In the meantime, our foreign minister must be feeling very uncomfortable with the Obama play?—?it’s such a pity, as Australia could have used its position as an honest broker. Instead it hung on to the extreme Jewish lobby coattails and the Bush madness for too long.
So what’s the journey to Israel about? Assuring Israel that while we love the US we don’t agree with Obama and if we do get a seat on the Security Council we will look after Israeli interests?
http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/06/09/what-is-gillards-israel-visit-all-about/
One other recent instance of a cooling in the Australia-Israeli relationship ..
Australia expels Israeli embassy official
MADELEINE COOREY .. May 24, 2010
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/australia-expels-israeli-embassy-official-20100524-w7oq.html
Then re both our countries, of course, there was the .. excerpts ..
On 3 November 2009, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution denouncing the report as "irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy." In contrast, the European Parliament passed a resolution endorsing the Goldstone report in March 2010, but by a narrow margin. The non-binding resolution called on the bloc's member states to "publicly demand the implementation of [the report's] recommendations and accountability for all violations of international law, including alleged war crimes."
[...]
General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly endorsed a resolution calling for independent investigations to be conducted by Israel and Hamas on allegations of war crimes described in the Goldstone report. The resolution was passed by overwhelming numbers with 114 in favour and 18 against, and 44 abstentions. The resolution calls on the UN Secretary General to report to the General Assembly within three months "with a view to considering further action, if necessary, by the relevant United Nations organs and bodies", and to send the report to the Security Council. The resolution enjoyed wide support among the Non-Aligned Movement bloc and the Arab bloc that comprise a majority of 120 votes. Most developing countries voted in favor. The countries that voted against the resolution were: Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, the Netherlands, Palau, Panama, Poland, Slovakia, The Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and the United States. Some European countries, namely Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Ireland, Portugal, Malta, Serbia, Slovenia and Switzerland, voted in favor of the resolution. Other European countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Spain, abstained.
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the vote showed that Israel has a "moral majority", adding: "[we] are pleased that 18 democratic 'premier league' states voted in line with Israel's position, while 44 South American and African states abstained".
The Palestinian ambassador to the UN stated that "the General Assembly sent a powerful message", adding that if Israelis do not comply, "we will go after them."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Fact_Finding_Mission_on_the_Gaza_Conflict#United_Nations
Sorry about the hodgeeep0g. It's the times. :)
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