Indigenous Friends of Israel Condemn the Albanese Government’s Decision to Betray Israel
We condemn the decision by the Albanese government to throw Israel under a bus by calling its holiest sites including the Temple Mount and Western Wall ‘occupied territories’. At best, they are the heartland of Israel, Judea, and Samaria. At worst, disputed territories.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has asserted in The Australian (9/8/23) that Australia remained a ‘committed friend of Israel’ based on a ‘shared commitment to democracy and the rule of law.’ If that’s how we treat our friends, who needs enemies?
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and the terrorist organisation Hamas had as its stated aim to wipe Israel off the map.
This undermines the peace process and is a capitulation to left-wing party members prior to the ALP National Conference to garner support for the AUKUS deal.
Actual History
As Indigenous Friends of Israel, we condemn the inaccurate propaganda that Israel is a racist, apartheid coloniser state. Jews have been in the land we now call Israel since the time of Abraham, 4,000 years ago. Jerusalem was made the capital of the Jewish state 3,000 years ago by King David.
Jews were conquered and removed at various times throughout history, but a remnant has always been in Israel, renamed Syria Palaestina by the conquering Romans. Arabs conquered and colonialised Jerusalem in the relatively recent time of AD 636-637. They came from Saudi Arabia. They are not Indigenous.
In 1967, when Arab nations went to war against Israel, the so-called West Bank, which had been illegally occupied by Jordan, returned to Israel.
In 1948, when Arab nations attacked Israel after it declared statehood, there were a similar number of Jews as refugees from Arab nations, from which they were expelled as Arab refugees from Israel. The Arab refugees fled the war or were displaced. Jewish refugees were absorbed by Israel, but the Arab nations refused to absorb Palestinian Arab refugees, so they could weaponise them against Israel.
Israeli Arabs are not treated in a racist apartheid manner as they are in the Knesset (Parliament), judiciary, police service, academia, business, and various professions. Israel is one of the most multicultural nations in the world.
Wrongheaded
Of grave concern is the ALP policy of recognising the Palestinian state passed at the 2021 ALP National Conference and likely to be reaffirmed this year. Palestine does not meet the requirements of a state, and the final status has not been agreed on between the parties.
The Palestinians have rejected a number of generous statehood offers by Israel, including ‘more than 90% of the West Bank, all of Gaza and compensating territory from Israel proper’, as Greg Sheridan stated in The Australian (9/8/23). However, they want the issue to continue to fester, rather than settling it.
We are also concerned at the Albanese government’s reversal of the Morrison government’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite its being the site of its national parliament and court etc.
However, the Albanese government has form on this matter, increasing funding last September for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) from $10 million to $20 million. This perpetuates the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by claiming that Palestinians and their descendants are ‘refugees’ and promoting a ‘right of return’ to Israel, rather than organising resettlement, as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees does for all other refugees. So, this is discriminatory treatment in favour of Palestinians.
Australia has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, and we should abide by this.
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Barbara Miller has written a Handbook on the Holocaust and the Australian Aboriginal Response for educators, high school students, and adult education. It was published by the WE ARE HERE! Foundation and is a free resource.
Photo by Leonid Altman.
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Norman and Barbara, thank you. Thank you for your balanced, informed, report. It is so sad that our politics needs to be played out overseas in another sovereign nations affairs. I am a huge advocate for the sovereignty of the nation state. That should mean we respect other nations, laws and customs, especially when the Bible tells us that those who bless Israel will be blessed. The opposite must also follow.
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As the world watches the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, it is crucial to shed light on the hardships faced by the Palestinian people, including Palestinian Christians, who bear the brunt of the ongoing tensions in the region. The situation in the occupied territories, the treatment of Palestinian Christians, and the broader human rights concerns should prompt us to reevaluate the current state of affairs and advocate for a just and lasting peace.
The Israeli occupation of territories is a longstanding issue that has resulted in the displacement of countless Palestinian families. Settlements continue to encroach on Palestinian land, making the prospects for a two-state solution increasingly uncertain. These actions not only violate international law but also deepen the divide between the two communities, exacerbating the cycle of violence and suffering.
Palestinian Christians, too, face significant challenges due to the conflict. Restrictions on movement, particularly in the West Bank and Gaza, severely impact their ability to access religious sites, schools, and hospitals. The separation barrier, constructed ostensibly for security reasons, has fragmented communities and caused immense hardship, disproportionately affecting Palestinian Christians. Their voices and struggles deserve our attention and support.
Human rights abuses, such as home demolitions and forced evictions, have become tragically commonplace in Palestinian territories. Families are left homeless, children’s futures disrupted, and the dignity of entire communities violated. These actions not only infringe upon the rights of Palestinians but also hinder the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
A just and lasting peace in the region is essential for both Palestinians and Israelis. The peace process must be based on mutual respect, recognition of historical narratives, and adherence to international law. While Israel claims to be a democracy, it is crucial to acknowledge the human rights concerns that continue to plague the region.
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In conclusion, we cannot ignore the struggles of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian Christians, as we seek a path to peace. The world must stand together to address the root causes of the conflict, promote human rights, and work tirelessly towards a just and lasting solution that brings security, dignity, and prosperity to both Palestinians and Israelis. Only through empathy, understanding, and commitment to justice can we hope to end this decades-long tragedy and build a brighter future for all.