Australia and Israel have always been friends irrespective of which party has been in government. Until now.

Since the Albanese government was elected, with less than one third of the primary vote, it has been insulting and offending Israel.

. Cancelled the previous government’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
. Replaced the term ‘disputed territories’ with the insulting ‘occupied Palestinian territories’.
. Increased funding of UNRWA thereby also funding Hamas.
. Demanded “restraint” from Israel after the October 7 atrocity against Israelis.
. Demanded ceasefires that would have been too risky for Israel.
. Pushing a ‘two state’ solution continually rejected by Hamas and Palestinians.
. Demanding that Israel aid Gazans, most of whom support Hamas.
. Dressing down the Israeli ambassador by junior minister Tim Watt.
. Failed to undertake not to arrest the Israeli PM after the idiotic ICC warrant.
. Refused an entry visa for an ex-Israel government minister.
. Sat back and did nothing about thugs on our streets calling for gassing of Jews.
. Allowed Australia to be associated with violent anti-Semitism.
. In the UN, shifted its vote from Israel to Israel's enemies.
. Took no action against the Iranian ambassador for his anti-Semitic comments here.

Even with that shocking record, Wong and Dreyfus have trotted off to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, calling for “unity” against anti-Semitism.

These two people have been part of a government that has overseen the greatest rise in anti-Semitism in Australia, ever. What hypocrites!

Jewish survivors and descendants of survivors of
Nazi genocide condemn the massacre of Palestinians
in Gaza.

Here is a link that is an important one to read:

http://teachinghistorymatters.com/2012/04/02/so-i-am-suspicious-of-education/

Israeli educational psychologist Dr Haim Ginott
writes about a letter that teachers would receive from
their principal each year:

"I am a survivor of a concentration camp. My eyes saw
what no person should witness; gas chambers built by
learned engineers. Children poisoned by educated
physicians. Infants killed by trained nurses. Women
and children shot by high school and college graduates.

So, I am suspicious of education.

My request is this:

Help your children become human. Your efforts must never
produce learned monsters, skilled psychopaths or educated
Eichmanns. Reading, writing, and arithmetic are
imported only if they serve to make our children more human".

I read this many years ago. However, it is a good reminder
to us all on the anniversary of the Holocaust and considering
the hate that is spreading around the world. I was lucky
enough to read Dr Ginott's book in Los Angeles where we
lived and worked for ten years. I preferred his advice to
Dr Spock's. I raised my children accordingly.

There's enough hatred in the world. We as parents/grand-parents
and educators of our kids and families, don't need to add to it.
Remember what your children learn from you can survive for
generations. Be wise with what you teach them.

And now… Trump has fingered Australia, Canada, Uk, and other leftist countries, as a recipient of Neolithic Palestinian Head Hunters dressed up as refugees; forced Israel to accept a Biden ceasefire proposal from May last year, rejected by both sides then, effectively drawing the war to a stalemate which will allow Hamas to regroup rearm and fight on in the future.

Failed at all to call out Qatar as the main arm of terrorists financing and organisation in the ME, inclusive of the terrorists propaganda voice, Al Jazeera, financed by Qatar, and actually included Qatar into negotiations as the good guys.

Situational change is occurring in the US, but very little changed in US foreign affairs policies from Biden/Obama

This outpouring of hatred by way of this hideous and thinly disguised support for a murderous regime in Israel is quite frankly making me sick. I have heard excuses from extremists and apologists which include “Israel has a biblical right / historical claim to the land and the Palestinians only have ‘squatters rights’ which means nothing for them.” And the second I or anyone else (including a government) disagree with those excuses and want to see the end of conflict, we are branded as antihistamines and no friend of the Jews. What a cheap, dishonest and lazy response. Personally I very loudly applaud and support the current Australian government’s efforts to bring lasting peace to the area and the eventual hunting down and arrest of the murderous leader of the current Israel government. The slaughter of 47,000 Palestinian people and the destruction of their land can never be justified in a sane civil world.

«Since the Albanese government was elected, with less than one third of the primary vote, it has been insulting and offending Israel.»

It is well for it to support sane Israelis against their evil extremist government:

«. Cancelled the previous government’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.»

Well yes, they should have been more precise: only Western Jerusalem is Israel's capital.

«. Replaced the term ‘disputed territories’ with the insulting ‘occupied Palestinian territories’.»

Half true again: these territories are indeed occupied, but not "Palestinian" (because there aren't such).

«. Demanded “restraint” from Israel after the October 7 atrocity against Israelis.»

Terrible as it was, restraint is auspicious.
There has been enough violence already.

«. Demanded ceasefires that would have been too risky for Israel.»

Remaining at war is even riskier and deadly for Israel.

«. Pushing a ‘two state’ solution continually rejected by Hamas and Palestinians.»

Who cares about them, whatever they accept or reject - 'two state' is good for Israel.

«. Demanding that Israel aid Gazans, most of whom support Hamas.»

This can help remove Gazan's dependence on Hamas.

«. Dressing down the Israeli ambassador by junior minister Tim Watt.»

And many Israelis are thankful for it.

«. Failed to undertake not to arrest the Israeli PM after the idiotic ICC warrant.»

If Netanyahu is arrested, Israel can be saved.

«. Refused an entry visa for an ex-Israel government minister.»

Her speaking in Australia was likely to incite anti-Semitism.

«. Sat back and did nothing about thugs on our streets calling for gassing of Jews.»

Preferred covert surveillance.

«. Allowed Australia to be associated with violent anti-Semitism.»

Could they prevent it? How?

«. In the UN, shifted its vote from Israel to Israel's enemies.»

A pro-Israel vote, to save Israel from its present government.

«. Took no action against the Iranian ambassador for his anti-Semitic comments here.»

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-06/iran-ambassador-called-in-wiping-zionist-tweet/104189654

«These two people have been part of a government that has overseen the greatest rise in anti-Semitism in Australia, ever. What hypocrites!»

It's a global murky wave - can we tell how much more anti-Semitism would we now have otherwise?

Hi Aries54

You will find almost identical arguments in opposition to Israel – that Palestine is the Holy Land that Allah gave to Muslims; that Jews have no right to be there; that the mass murder, rape, mutilation and hostage taking that Hamas committed in October 2023 are justified. But I think in both cases these are extreme views that are not representative of most supporters of either side – certainly not here in Australia.

I support a genuine two-state solution, but that requires both Israel and Palestine to have governments that agree to recognise each other and co-exist peacefully. Neither has, at the moment.

All sides in this ghastly conflict have many legitimate, deep and bitter grievances against the other/s which can never be fully redressed. But to return to the situation before 2023, with Hamas in control of Gaza, the UN providing long-term human services, and Israel and Egypt locking the borders to slow the rate at which terrorist groups re-arming would be a disaster for both Israel and Gazans. I fear that could be the outcome of a ceasefire now unless there is a clear and realistic plan for the future of Palestine when this war ends.

"Even with that shocking record, Wong and Dreyfus have trotted off to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, calling for “unity” against anti-Semitism."

I agree, they shouldn't be wasting time going to those things.

And anyone would think ttbn cares more about Israel than Australia.
It's no some wonder people get staunchly opposed to Israeli influence, when others among us act like teenage girls at a Beatles concert.

'when this war ends'.
- Hasn't it been going for about a century now?

We need to remember that Albo and the ALP in general have a election coming up and are laser-focused on maintaining and retaining the Mohammadian vote which is critical in quite a few potentially marginal seats.

So pandering to the antisemite faction is required. When a nation imports a cohort who are both antithetical to the basic ethos of the nation and determined to remain aloof, it is inevitable that they will distort the electoral processes of that nation.

The Jews are less important electorally and thus there is little downside for the ALP from siding with the Mohammadians. So of course they side with the likes of Iran and Saudi Arabia in UN votes. Of course they adopt anti-Israel policies in regards to the so-called Palestinians.

Currently Sydney is suffering a large and growing number of antisemitic attacks on Synagogues, Jewish schools, homes of Jews and actual Jews. The authorities are tut-tutting about how unAustralian it all is, but doing little, or at least not enough, to curb the racism.

All part of the electoral process.

But imagine if it was Mosques and Mohammadian schools and burka-clad women being similarly attacked. The PM would be crying islamophobia from the roof-tops and demanding troops in the streets to protect his constituency.

Gotta protect those phoney-baloney jobs. The best interests of Australia's international standing runs a distant second.

mhaze

I have never been able to get my head around politicians panting after a minority and pissing off the majority by doing so.

There are about 800,000 Muslims, and only around 100,000 Jews.

Sure. But what about the (roughly) 18 million voters who are neither?

There are seats overloaded with Muslims, but not that many. The major parties should give them up and concentrate on the majority of seats not beyond help and usefulness.

Its all about single issue voters as opposed to multi-issue voters.

Let's say, for the sake of the argument, that Albo suddenly decided to change course and go all in on Israel. How many voters would say "Oh I always wanted us to support Israel, I'll change my vote to ALP"? Very few I'd venture. But how many would be outraged by it and decide to stop supporting the ALP? Vast numbers of Mohammadians I'd suggest.

So such a policy would never happen. He'd lose lotsa votes from those who vote on the one issue of Palestine and gain very few votes from the other side.

Its not just this issue. There is a cohort for whom climate change is the deciding issue and they are all totally down with net zero. A much greater number aren't sold on net zero but it isn't a deciding issue for them. So both sides are pro net zero chasing those single issue voters.

There are an overwhelming percentage opposed to the massive immigration stance of both parties. But few of them will change their vote based on that one issue alone whereas those in favour of large numbers of immigrants will vote on that one issue. So what the vast majority wants is ignored because of what much more committed voters wants.

This is why we are seeing more and more teals and other independents who are able to identify electorates with a higher proportion of voters who will vote on single issues.

The great number of people vote on economic issues but this is more esoteric being based on perceptions on who is best able to run the economy or reduce cost of living or reduce interest rates. These are multi-issue voters who aren't swayed by a single policy.

And intermixed with all of that is the baked on voter - the 60% or so who will always vote Lib or Lab irrespective of policy, leadership or promises.

The following link broadens this discussion - for those
interested in debating issues:

http://abc.net.au/religion/derja-iner-islamophobia-antisemitism-australia-shared-challenge/104841086

Mhaze

Lots of words. The fact remains there is a lot of angst - and increasing physical danger - in this country because of 800,000 Muslims and 117,000 Jews; out of a population of 27 million people.

Australian politicians are suckers for malcontented, demanding minorities: unless they are a very small minority like the Jews. If it's not Muslims, it's aborigines. Or homosexuals. Or gender benders. The majority is expected to sit back and take it. If the average Australian wasn't so docile and naive about politics, all the shite would stop. Sadly, there is not much hope of that happening. I'm glad that I am on the way out. Australia is no place for old men.

The answer to all the questions about what will happen in Australia after the Trump election? Buggerall.

Hi Foxy
An interesting read, as is the article it responds to.

I think Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism are equally abhorrent and basically come from the same place. Anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents have both increased in Australia since October 2023, both rooted in prejudices that hate Australian Jews because of the actions of Israel or Australian Muslims because of the actions of Hamas.

It is seriously wrong-headed to say that the significance of one is diminished by the prevalence of the other. These are not competing victimhoods. Yet both the Iner and Oboler articles, while professing otherwise, tend to do just that – Oboler emphasising the rise and virulence of Anti-Semitism, Iner the ubiquity and perhaps under-reporting of Islamophobia.

Seeing both as basically an expression of the same thing, and seeking to understand their roots and how to deal with them, seem sensible and constructive suggestions. I do agree, though, with some of ttbn’s points about the Australian Government’s response to the rise in racism in the past 16 months being totally inadequate.

The question was why has the current government seemingly adopted a stance more antagonistic to Israel than has been traditional in Australia.

The answer is due to the relative political clout of the Jews and the Mohomadians within the Australian electorate.