The biggest arms supplier on the planet is the United States. The United States has military bases in many parts of the world along with a history of backing authoritarian or dictatorial governments. In 1987 a meeting former CIA men in Switzerland estimated that 6,000,000 have been killed by US trained or sponsored death squads. Union leaders, co-op organisers and others who were seen as threats to those in power. China suppresses dissent, has killed over 3,000 Falun Gong practitioners and allows little political freedom. Indonesia has exported Javanese to the other parts of Indonesia ignoring the wishes of others in the area, suppressed independence movements in Sumatra and Irian Jaya and has imprisoned people for merely stating they were atheists. One could go on. Some of Israel's actions have been horrible, but the horrible actions of the US, Indonesia and China don't even merit a slap on the wrist. Israel is a minor player when it comes to oppression. Why not recognise the others?

That Australia is a fervent supporter of the murderous regimes of the U.S. and Israel is something that should bring much shame.

The U.S. has killed between 20 and 30 million people since WW2 in its attempt to achieve global domination. Who would know how many people Israel has killed since 1947 as it brutalizes the Palestinians and steals more and more of their land.

Why is Australia a supporter of rogue regimes? Aren't we supposed to support the principle of the 'fair-go'.

It seems that that is an illusion!

I thought that the Article was drivel.

Then I read the comments.......

There are many parts of Henry Lebovic's article which are factually incorrect - let me just focus on one of them: "...the killing of Turkish peace activists on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid took place on 31 May 2010, but that tragedy prompted no condemnation from the Australian government."

That's because the Gaza blockade is legal according to the UN itself, and designed to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza - and Henry Lebovic should know it. Also the so-called "peace activists" set upon the Israeli soldiers with clubs and other weapons - there is footage to prove it. If activists were killed by soldiers in self-defence then that's the chance they took, opening attack on soldiers who were simply doing their job - boarding the vessel to escort it out of Israeli waters. If these activists did indeed come in 'peace', what were they doing armed and on the attack?

Henry Lebovic writes “the killing of Turkish peace activists on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla raid took place on 31 May 2010, but that tragedy prompted no condemnation from the Australian government.”

They were not condemned because the UN ruled that Israel acted within its rights and was legal. "Activists” attacked the Israeli IDF sailors and if the same had happened to Australian sailors they would have done the same.

Israel does make advanced weapons and yes Australia buys them.

Australia manufactures Land mines. I am sure that we are responsible for some of the greatest tragedies in Africa, Asia and Europe. Oh by the way Australia is a signature for ethical weapons sale. Hmm. Maybe we need a slap on the wrist?

Henry also writes “even after the outrage over Operation Cast Lead in late 2008

Lets see about this, Operation Cast Lead was mounted by Israel to halt the unending barrage of missiles being fired by Hamas in Gaza at Israeli civilians.

The rest of Mr Lebovic’s article praises Israeli innovation by using technology that was designed for the military and used of mining in harsh environments. Although he would not see that. (turning swords into plowshares?)

His article is biased. He condemns Israel on all points. If he would apply the same criteria to Australia he would have to say that we have a terrible human rights history. I think we Australians need to be slapped on the wrist.

We have systematically performed genocide on the indigenous Australians. We killed millions and subjected the survivors to poverty. We stole their children and did not treat them as human until the late 60’s. Now we have children in custody. We treat refugees so badly we are in violation of human rights accords that we signed.

Maybe Israel should not trade with us! We have a terrible human rights record. Maybe not as bad as Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria, Iran and Gaza but we do alright.

So let’s be honest. The author is anti-Israel and has an agenda that is not based on human rights but on bias and Antisemitism.

David G I see you continue with your usual hate posts of the US and Israel ‘murderous regimes’. You are obviously not familiar with too many other regimes to make this bizarre claim.

The last time I checked Australia is not a supporter of rogue regimes. Australia supports Israel and the US, simply because in most cases the interests of those two nations converge with our own and we share similar values. It does not support rogue regimes such as Hamas because, well, it’s a rogue regime intent on killing and destruction. Just visit their home page and you’ll get the idea.