ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT

Jewish hate speech surge alarms PM

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 14-May-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed a pre-budget meeting of Labor’s caucus on Monday. He praised the performance of Foreign Minister Penny Wong in responding to the Israel-Hamas war and reiterated his government’s support for a two-state solution. Albanese also acknowledged the growing issue of anti-Semitism in Australia; responding to a question from senator Deborah O’Neill, he said that hostility towards Jewish people is at the highest level that he has seen in his lifetime. The government is also continuing to attract scrutiny over its controversial decision to support a United Nations motion on Palestine.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Palestine chant may incite violence

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 7 : 8-May-24

Former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson contends that ‘from the river to the sea’ is a "very violent statement" and its use by pro-Palestine demonstrators could prompt violence against communities in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed similar sentiments about the now widely-used chant, and he has stated that it has "no place on Australia’s streets". Richardson and Albanese have discussed the issue in a documentary hosted by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg that will be broadcast by Sky News later in May. Meanwhile, Frydenberg has called for action to remove pro-Palestine encampments at some of the nation’s major universities.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israel strikes Rafah

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman, Bassem Mroue
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-May-24

Hamas has confirmed that it will accept a ceasefire proposal that is being brokered by mediators Qatar and Egypt in the latest attempt to end the war with Israel. Details of the proposed ceasefire have not been disclosed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it does not meet his nation’s essential demands; however, Netanyahu has indicated that he will send negotiators to continue talks on the deal. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed that "targeted strikes" have begun in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel advised people in Rafah to evacuate the town ahead of the military operation.

CORPORATES

Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal as Israel strikes Rafah

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sam Mednick, Josef Federman, Bassem Mroue
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 7-May-24

Hamas has confirmed that it will accept a ceasefire proposal that is being brokered by mediators Qatar and Egypt in the latest attempt to end the war with Israel. Details of the proposed ceasefire have not been disclosed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it does not meet his nation’s essential demands; however, Netanyahu has indicated that he will send negotiators to continue talks on the deal. Meanwhile, the Israeli Defense Forces have confirmed that "targeted strikes" have begun in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where about 1.4 million Palestinians have sought refuge. Israel advised people in Rafah to evacuate the town ahead of the military operation.

CORPORATES

ABC ombudsman clears 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson of breaching impartiality rules in an interview with an IDF spokesman

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: Online : 23-Apr-24

The ABC ombudsman Fiona Cameron has examined an interview between 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson and an Israel Defence Forces spokesman, after 52 complaints were received about the interview. Ferguson had told the spokesman that she did not accept claims that the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers was a mistake, with Cameron reviewing the complaints against Ferguson against the ABC’s editorial standards for impartiality. Cameron has come out in support of Ferguson’s comments, noting Ferguson had a duty to conduct a testing interview that does not allow the interviewee "to use the occasion as a political platform".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Anti-Israel ACTU stirs Jewish fury

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Ferguson, Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Apr-24

The ACTU has called on the federal government to cease military trade with Israel, provide Gaza and the West Bank with a further $100 million in aid, and enforce targeted sanctions against Israeli government officials. It represents the ACTU’s strongest statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict since it began in October; its timing has angered the Jewish community, given that it has been issued on the eve of the holy festival of Passover. Commenting on the statement, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler says the ACTU appears to be living in an ‘alternative reality’ that ignores the fact that the conflict was started by Hamas, and that it is still holding 130 hostages.

CORPORATES
ACTU, ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA

Israel warned to hold its fire

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Danny Kemp
The Australian – Page: 11 : 16-Apr-24

The US has told Israel it will not be part of any response against Iran, following the Iranian attack on Saturday that saw over 300 drones and missiles fired towards ­Israel, while UN secretary-­general, Antonio Guterres has told the UN Security Council that "now is the time to defuse and de-escalate". Israel’s UN envoy, Gilad Erdad, has urged the council to impose all possible sanctions on Iran, while Iran has stated the attack was in response to an airstrike on its consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus on 1 April that left seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards dead and which was widely blamed on Israel.

CORPORATES
UNITED NATIONS

Gaza protests: business braces for more pain

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 16-Apr-24

Pro-Palestine protestors sought to block "the arteries of capitalism" in a number of Australian cities on Monday, with ports, train stations and CBDs among their targets. Victorian police stated that 14 protestors were arrested in Melbourne, including 12 near the Boeing factory in Port Melbourne, where a road was blocked. Another two were arrested for tampering with traffic lights in Carlton, with Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Paul Guerra saying blocking roads and interfering with traffic lights is "dangerous, insensitive and disrespectful". Victorian’s Opposition leader John Pesutto says people have a right to protest, but in a peaceful way, and that the protestors on Monday were giving democracy a bad name.

CORPORATES
VICTORIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, LIBERAL PARTY OF VICTORIA

Bridget Archer leads criticism after Peter Dutton compares pro-Palestine protest to Port Arthur massacre

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sarah Basford Canales, Luca Ittimani
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 12-Apr-24

Opposition leader Peter Dutton is under growing scrutiny over a recent speech in which he raised concern about the growing incidence of anti-Semitism in Australia. Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer has questioned the appropriateness of Dutton’s comment in which he said that pro-Palestine protests at the Sydney Opera House on 9 October were "akin to a Port Arthur moment in terms of their social significance". Archer says this comment was "incredibly disrespectful" to the victims and survivors of the Port Arthur massacre, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Dutton "went too far". Dutton says he was referring to former prime minister John Howard’s strength as a leader; the Port Arthur massacre resulting in stricter gun laws in Australia.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Wong suggests Australian government considering recognising Palestinian statehood

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Stephen Dziedzic
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 10-Apr-24

Australia’s Jewish community has expressed concern over comments made by Foreign Minister Penny Wong which suggested that the federal government may be open to recognising a Palestinian state. Wong has used a speech at a National Security College conference to contend that international recognition of Palestinian statehood could provide a pathway to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Wong also argued that recognition of Palestinian statehood would help to undermine the Hamas terrorist organisation. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler says Hamas must be removed from power in Gaza before there can be any consideration of statehood; he adds that there must be a new generation of Palestinian leaders who recognise Israel’s right to exist.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA