Friday, August 7, 2015

Another Standout Australian Performance at the UN

"Australia was one of only 2 countries out of 54 nations to vote against a motion singling out Israel at the UN Economic and Social council (ECOSOC) late last month. The text of the motion accused Israel of, among other things, 'destruction of homes and properties, economic institutions and agricultural lands and orchards in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as in the occupied Syrian Golan', the 'exploitation of natural resources' and of 'the dumping of all kinds of waste materials in the Occupied Palestinian territory... and in the occupied Syrian Golan'." (Australia stands up for Israel at the UN, The Australian Jewish News, 7/8/15)

The only other country to vote against the motion was the United States.

"Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop told The AJN Australia voted against the resolution 'because it was unbalanced. It unfairly singled out Israel for criticism and made no mention of Hamas' role in perpetuating the conflict which has done so much to impoverish the Palestinian people', she said."

Yes, Jools, there must be balance!

Hamas simply cannot be allowed to get away with the pretence that it isn't equally involved in the destruction of homes and properties, economic institutions and agricultural lands and orchards in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Not to mention the dumping of waste materials in the West Bank and the Golan Heights... And in blockading and starving the Gaza Strip... And in shelling and bombing the bejesus out of it every year or so... And in...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Gabi - Good ol' Julie Bishop - blaming the victim. If she read anything coming out of the Middle East, including some Israeli press (albeit it left-wing press) she would know that rarely does Hamas send off any rockets unless in answer to actions by the IDF. The IDF almost daily does some form of harassment, be it of farmers going "too close to the fence", or kids playing "too close to the fence", or fishermen going about their daily business but which Israel decides is "too far out" from the shore. The IDF fires bullets at these people with apparent impunity, and then raises a great storm when a few rockets are fired in retaliation. And uses the rockets as an excuse to bomb the shit out of Gaza in a most unbalanced reprisal.

Balance? This is one of the most unbalanced conflicts in the world today and our Foreign Minister must know this. Unfortunately, Israel seems to control our government, same as in the US. Shame !!!