Letters, August 20, 2010

Dismayed by AUJS chair

I WAS extremely saddened to read the article by Liam Getreu, Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS) national chairperson (AJN 13/08), in which he said “our politicians should not automatically be supporting Israel” because this is not good for Israel or the Australian-Jewish community.
Getreu called for a more “nuanced” approach on the conflict, though not before he suggested that one of the primary impediments to peace is “Israeli occupation and trigger-happiness”. I wonder what Getreu means by “nuanced”? Should we be more nuanced when Iran calls to wipe Israel off the map or in response to sanction campaigns? How about in the wake of the terrorist flotilla? Oh wait, he already said that the Coalition “leaping” to Israel’s defence during the flotilla was “particularly detrimental”.

Without question, the most disturbing, part of his article was the quote that: “When my peers remark that they plan on voting for whichever party shows the best support for Israel, it breaks my heart”. Last time I checked, one of the four main pillars of AUJS was Zionism and promoting a positive image of Israel on campus. It seems Getreu is either unable, or more worryingly, unwilling to stand up, to defend and advocate for Israel with the passion and manner warranted.
Arsen Ostrovsky
Former AUJS political officer

Israel let down by Labor

WE are very fortunate, in Australia, that both of the major political parties are friends of Israel. However, there are still degrees of friendship. When the Labor Government overreacted to the apparent use of forged Australian passports in the killing of Hamas terrorist Mahmoud al-Mabhouh by expelling an Israeli intelligence official, the Coalition stated it would not have done so.

Even more concerning was Stephen Smith’s description of the killing as “murder”, when it was hardly different to what the Australian troops do when they kill terrorists in Afghanistan. It has also been notable that on some of the annual one-sided anti-Israel UN resolutions that the Coalition government formerly opposed, the current Labor Government has abstained from or even voted in favour.

Julia Gillard may seek to distance herself from these decisions, but she was an important part of the government that made them. Furthermore, it seems that these steps were motivated, at least in part, by the campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council.

Bruce Levin

St Kilda East, Vic

Greens reject all violence

ALAN Freedman (AJN 23/07) critiques The Greens position on Israel/Palestine, saying that we do not address “the decades of violence and terror that Israelis have endured”.

The Greens, however, are motivated by a deep belief in non-violent approaches to resolving any conflict and the protection of the human rights of all innocent people to live in peace without fear of terror or violence. An Australian Greens resolution passed by a consensus of members specifically states our support for the legitimate rights and aspirations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples to live in peace and security in their own independent, sovereign states, and our support for negotiation to achieve the democratic aspirations of both peoples within an environment of mutual respect and equality.

Sue Plowright

Greens candidate, Melbourne Ports

We should reject Greens

MANY voters who support the continued existence of the State of Israel will be unwilling to support The Greens, whose anti-Israel stance has been highlighted recently in Michael Easson’s letter and Barry Cohen’s advertisement in The AJN.

In contrast to The Greens, the leadership and mainstream of both the ALP and the Coalition are strong and longstanding supporters of the continued existence of Israel within secure and defensible borders.

Voters wishing to ensure their vote for one of the major parties will not inadvertently help to elect a Greens MP or senator should note two things: for the House of Representatives, Greens should be put last in the electorates of Melbourne and Sydney. In other electorates, where The Greens are put will not matter; for the Senate, voters should vote below the line and put The Greens last.

Professor Douglas Kirsner

Caulfield North, Vic

Liberals haven’t wavered

HENRY Herzog (AJN 13/08) writes that Labor removed the previous PM who was responsible for kicking out the “Israeli bloke” and replaced him with Gillard, and that Gillard had proven that she was supportive of Israel. I seem to remember during the last election being attacked by Labor supporters who argued there was no difference between Labor and Liberal as far as Israel was concerned. Since then we have witnessed a Rudd government withdraw its support for Israel at the UN and expel an Israeli diplomat, actions criticised by the Liberals as something they would never do.

It is undeniable Michael Danby is a great advocate for Israel and Jewish interests. It is disingenuous of Jews though to dismiss the unwavering and unprecedented support of Israel by the previous Howard, Abbott, Costello, Downer government. When it comes to Israel, the Liberals’ track record speaks for itself.

Michael Burd

Toorak, Vic

My pasta needed sauce

I LOVE The AJN. In fact, in my home, “Pasta Thursdays” with The AJN are weekly highlights. But I would love it more if it asked those questions that demand answers.

I awoke on the morning of the flotilla incident to an interview with Stephen Smith, and was appalled by his lack of support for Israel. I had never previously felt that the country in which I live had abandoned the country which I love. Hence my disappointment with last week’s interview, which did little but give the Foreign Minister a platform for cliches like “We did not see this as getting in the way of our relationship with Israel … back to business as usual.”

How much more interesting if the minister had been asked: Why did you condemn the incident as “terrible and shocking” without commenting on the provocation by the flotilla activists? Why did the former PM “condemn the use of violence by Israelis” without regard for the violent attacks on them? And, would our government¬† condone¬† forged passports if they could have been used to prevent the Bali bombing?

As delicious as my wife’s pasta is, I would enjoy it even more if The AJN satisfied my appetite for answers.

Henry Kalus