Dear Bazz,

In Twain's book Innocents Abroad he writes of his visit to Tangier;

“Here, under the quiet stars, these old streets seem thronged with the phantoms of forgotten ages. My eyes are resting upon a spot where stood a monument which was seen and described by Roman historians less than two thousand years ago, whereon was inscribed:

"WE ARE THE CANAANITES. WE ARE THEY THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF THE LAND OF CANAAN BY THE JEWISH ROBBER, JOSHUA."

Joshua drove them out, and they came here.”

A land with a long history of dispossession.

Yet we hope that we live in slightly more civilized times and that international law might serve to protect peoples against naked aggression, occupation and dispossession. Clearly in the case of the Palestinians it and we have been found wanting.

It is interesting to note the tirades from the US about the actions of Russia and China in vetoing moves on Syria. Yet they have engaged in just such behaviour in protecting Israel from the full force of international sanction and condemnation. Perhaps that protection may well be questioned now.

Australia spends about $50 million a year in Palestine. The Ausaid site says;

“Our aid helps to improve essential services such as basic health care and food security for Palestinians—in particular refugees, women and children—and to promote democracy and good governance. Australia’s three key priorities are:

providing basic services and humanitarian and emergency assistance to refugees and other vulnerable groups

state-building and support for the peace process, with a focus on improving governance and capacity of the Palestinian Authority

developing civil society, with a focus on reducing vulnerability, particularly for Palestinian women, children and youth"

People like Mr Singer are attempting to undermine and threaten that good work by trying to dictate where we Australians should be targeting those funds with baseless claims of illegality, totally unsupported by international law. He and his ilk need to be strongly rebuked and rejected.

We should remain committed to assisting these blighted people and be proud of those efforts.

For the reader who would like some more information about the planned demolitions and to know there are some fine Australian Jewish voices countering the likes of Mr Singer here is a link to Independent Australian Jewish Voices;

http://iajv99.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/action-alert-ausaid-project-amongst-others-marked-for-demolition-in-susiya-south-hebron/

It includes the video: “A Community to be Destroyed” on the planned demolition of the entire village of Susiya.

http://iajv99.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/video-a-community-to-be-destroyed-on-the-planned-demolition-of-the-entire-village-of-susiya/

These people to me reflect a marvellous combination of an innate thirst for social justice and an Aussie sense of a fair go.

They deserve our support and donations if possible.

csteele, your quote just goes to show how useless it is to try and
find a "legal" solution to the problem.

After all there are very good legal cases to overturn the occupation
of many estates in the UK which were forcefully taken over by the Normans.
Of course before them the Celts were displaced by the Anglo Saxons.
Before them the Brits were displaced by the Celts.
And those b*#*%y Romans got involved for a few hundred years.

In other words the world is a mess.

WE have to survive with what we are handed by history.

To csteele

The material you posted makes it abundantly clear that Australia along with Germany,Poland and the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission are engaged in funding illegal Arab building in Area C of the West Bank for political rather than humanitarian purposes.

Why be shy about admitting it?

Susiya has a population of 350 people and is described as a "herding community" that dwell in basic shelters mainly tents and shacks, living there on a seasonal basis.

Where do they live out of season?

Why would any fiscally responsible Government be putting money into this kind of legal minefield if not for political reasons?

The residents claim goes from 6000 dunams to 3000 dunams to 2000 dunams and is still before the High Court of Justice to be determined.

The Organization calling on Independent Australian Jewish Voices to write to Senator Carr to protect Australia's investment is the UN Office for Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. It has been caught out engaging in similar support of such illegal Arab building activities itself.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=277620

Has everyone had a sudden attack of writer's cramp? asks the Singer.

No, it's just that people have better things to do with their time than engage in trying to argue with a religious zealot who is trying to prove to us that black is white!

We are not fooled by your childish antics and semantics, Singer.

To David G

Didn't really need your lecture.

Just wanted to know whether you approve of Australia throwing money down the drain investing in illegal Arab building programs that do not have building approval and run the risk of being demolished.

Why the reluctance to express your opinion?