WAR – MIDDLE EAST

Peace Inc: Trump’s audacious Gaza start-up

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 1-Oct-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the Trump administration’s proposed 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, and urged Hamas to accept it. US President Donald Trump said the deal will bring "eternal peace to the Middle East", but warned that Israel will have his "full backing" to finish the job of destroying Hamas if the terrorist group does not agree to the peace plan. Hamas negotiators have indicated that they are willing to study the plan "in good faith" and provide a response. Amongst other things, Hamas would be required to release its remaining hostages within 72 hours and lay down its weapons, while there would be a phased withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza. A ‘Board of Peace’ would be established to oversee the administration of Gaza; it would be chaired by Trump.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Government sends strongest signal yet on Palestinian recognition

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Original article by Matthew Knott
Brisbane Times – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

It has been revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the issue of Palestine in a conversation with the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday. Albanese has also talked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the two leaders committed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September. This has prompted growing speculation that Australia will join other nations in formally recognising Palestinian statehood at the meeting. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned that there may be no Palestine left to recognise unless progress is made on a two-state solution.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED NATIONS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

ALP ups its attack on Israel over Gaza

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Jul-25

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has defended the federal government’s decision to issue a joint statement with 27 other nations urging Israel to end the war in Gaza. Amongst other things, the statement contended that Israel’s "drip feeding" of aid into Gaza is "dangerous and unacceptable", and that the suffering of civilians in Gaza has "reached new depths". Burke had described Israel’s conduct in Gaza as "indefensible", but acknowledges that Hamas must release its remaining hostages. The joint statement has in turn been criticised by Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, who says it is "disconnected from reality" and "sends the wrong message to Hamas".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Blockade a wake-up call for fuel reserves

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 25-Jun-25

Defence and national security expert Jennifer Parker believes that Iran’s ally China will not allow the Strait of Hormuz to be closed to oil tankers. However, Parker says Iran’s threat to block the strait – which is used to ship about 25 per cent of global oil supplies – is a "timely reminder" that Australia needs to build a much larger onshore reserve of fuel. The International Energy Agency’s protocols require nations to hold at least 90 days of oil stocks in reserve; this includes both oil that is stored domestically and fuel that is in transit. The IEA estimates that Australia has just 56 days of onshore fuel reserves, including 31 days worth of petrol.

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INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

ABC fields on protest coverage

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Original article by James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 2 : 1-Oct-24

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has lodged a complaint against the ABC over its coverage of Lebanon and Gaza solidarity protests in Sydney and Melbourne on Sunday. Its complaint related to multiple live crosses from the Sydney protest and an evening package covering the Melbourne rally, with the package of the Melbourne rally criticised for not telling viewers that Hezbollah is a registered terrorist organisation, or for mentioning the display of Hezbollah flags at the rally. In its response to criticism of the package covering the Melbourne rally, the ABC noted it was the third of three stories on the events in Lebanon commissioned for 7pm news bulletins, and that the earlier stories had provided full context on the conflict.

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AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY