Tag: Australian Government

Israel

Israel and Australian law on sanctions. Will we act? – Pearls and Irritations

The imposition of sanctions on Israel by the Australian government is a logical step now that Foreign Minister Penny Wong has finally bowed to the inevitable in calling Israel’s West Bank settlements ‘illegal’. As Wong told the federal party caucus yesterday, it was time to “strengthen the government’s objection to settlements by affirming that they are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace”.

Given all this there cannot be a clearer case for the Albanese government to back up its commitment to finally recognising the illegality of the West Bank settlements by using its sanctions legislation against Israel. It cannot stand tall in remembering that this nation’s history in sanctioning one apartheid regime, South Africa, while sitting on its hands in relation to the latest manifestation of that odious practice in Israel.

If Senator Wong and her colleagues really do want to “strengthen the government’s objection to settlements”, to use her phrase, then sanctions are a must.

Source: Israel and Australian law on sanctions. Will we act? – Pearls and Irritations

Uncategorized

Why did Australia oppose an ICJ advisory opinion on Israeli settlements? – Pearls and Irritations

Jerusalem view from the Olive mountain, Israel.

Statement issued on 3 February last by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people. I quote:

“The Bureau firmly believes in supporting an immediate and unconditional end to Israel’s illegal, half-century-old occupation and establishing a two-State solution, with the achievement of the independence and sovereignty of the Palestinian State based on the 1967 lines, and the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including self-determination, and a just solution for the plight of the Palestinian refugees, in line with UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements.”

Surely the Australian people are entitled to an explanation as to why in December last year the government voted against an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

Source: Why did Australia oppose an ICJ advisory opinion on Israeli settlements? – Pearls and Irritations

Liars paradise

Djokovic visa debacle: Tennis star faces questions over Australian Open visa after new ‘evidence’ | Daily Mail Online

Novak Djokovic was all smiles on Tuesday at a practice session in Melbourne.

A negative result would have invalidated Djokovic’s claim to enter Australia on a temporary working visa for the tournament. His positive test result has also been called into question by a discrepancy in the identification numbers used for every test. The German investigation found Djokovic’s December 16 test result had the ID number 7371999, but his negative result on December 22 was 7320919 – 50,000 spaces lower.

Source: Djokovic visa debacle: Tennis star faces questions over Australian Open visa after new ‘evidence’ | Daily Mail Online

Humour

Every Picture Tells a Story