Hi Maverick,

Shock after shock.

Liz Truss has resigned. And now this mess with Lidia
Thorpe.

I still keep hoping that the next news will be Putin's
been removed. Ah well.

I guess we can live and hope.

As for Thorpe? Bandt will have to deal with that one.
I'm just surprised that he didn't know anything about
her private life - when his office had been told. Perhaps
Bandt didn't think it mattered because the guy had left
the bikie gang before he got involved with Thorpe?
Not sure if this is a storm in a teacup or not?

We'll have to wait and see what else develops.
It's a field for the media - that's for sure.
And scandal does sell doesn't it?

The Victorian election is just around the corner.
Matthew Guy must be jumping up and down.

Now back to Jerusalem.

The 1967 war resulted in the occupation by Israel
of East Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories,
and ended the armistice demarcation line between
the eastern and western sections but re-opened with
new vehemence the debate over the two competing
claims.

Israel, which annexed East Jerusalem in 1980 considers
"Jerusalem, whole and united, is the capital of Israel,"
and wants the city to "remain forever under Israel's
sovereignty."

It's "de facto" control on the ground has enabled
it to invest vast resources and efforts into changing
the physical and demographic characteristics of the city.

The Israeli claims to Jerusalem however have not been
recognized by the international community which rejects
the acquisition of territory by war and considers any
changes on the ground - illegal and invalid.

On the other hand, the Palestinians have claimed East
Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state
of Palestine to be established in the territories occupied
since 1967.

The status of the Holy Places has a special significance
in the debate and proposals have been made for their
internationalization.

The problem of how to reach a mutually acceptable compromise
between these two irreconcilable positions and concerns has
acquired particular urgency with no acceptable solution yet
in sight.

Dear Foxy,

«The problem of how to reach a mutually acceptable compromise
between these two irreconcilable positions and concerns...»

Hold right there.

So long as you believe that there are only 2 positions, ignoring the reality as well as its subtlety and timing, you will never reach any solution.

To begin with, there are many more than 2 sides to the conflict you want to solve. Both Israel and "Palestine" are deeply divided societies. Israel is heading towards a civil war while the "Palestinians" are already in it, yet you keep speaking of them as if they were single entities with single positions...

Are you aware that Israelis do not agree among them on ANYTHING?
Are you aware that Israel is heading into elections in 11 days?
Are you aware that Israel has a Nazi party which is predicted to take a double-digit number of seats out the Knesset's 120 seats, becoming Israel's 3rd-largest party?
Are you aware that the agenda of that Nazi party includes:
1) Annex all occupied territories.
2) Expel/evict all Arabs and their supporters (i.e. their political opponents) from the entire bigger Israel.
3) Incorporate Jewish law (the Torah) into Israeli law.
4) make marriage and sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews, as well as homosexuality and abortions, illegal, punishable with 5 years imprisonment.
Here is the "cleaner" public-face of their agenda in English: http://ozma-yeudit.com/the-platform-of-otzma-yehudit-jewish-strength/

Are you aware that Netanyhau, a corrupt criminal who would do ANYTHING to escape prison by becoming prime-minister again, intends to include this Nazi party in his coalition and form government with them?
Are you aware that his chances of winning this elections are about 50%?

Are you aware that Labor's declaration at this very sensitive time, that Western Jerusalem is not Israel's capital plays straight into Netanyahu's arms, increasing his chances to be elected? That this is also a stab in the backs of all peace lovers, including of the Israeli Labor party?

There is a report that is worth a read from the
Center for strategic and international studies.
It's an analysis of the Israel and Palestinian
situation:

http://csis.org/analysis/israel-and-palestinians-two-state-solution-five-failed-states

It explains things much better than I can.

Dear Foxy,

«It explains things much better than I can.»

Is your estimate of your own knowledge so low - that even such a hazy superficial opinion-piece describes reality better than yourself?

You sounded so confident earlier when claiming that Australia's denial that Western Jerusalem is Israel's capital, is a step towards peace in the Middle-East.

Sadly, it seems that Australia's decision at this particular time pushes Israel into a dark Nazi era, where "peace" means "no Arabs" (and also no opposition, no homosexuals, no intermarriage and rule by the Torah). Are you still proud of this decision?

Hi Foxy

As Bandt's Office knew a long time beforehand I think he was orally briefed long before now.

Even a pure Green like Bandt would follow the Politician's Maxim that unless the evidence was written down and is staring him in the face the briefing didn't happen of he "forgot".

A staffer confessing there was an oral briefing long ago might be the next Act in this drama.

Cheers Mavs