Plus ça change..

I saw a program about Yehudi Menuhin on TV, and in the course of looking up some bio facts about him, I cam across this wonderful quote from 18 years ago when he gave a speech to the Knesset after being awarded an Israeli Prize. Speaking of the occuption, he said–

Debate needed on nuclear weapons

Letter in The Age 01/10/09
CONGRATULATIONS to Amin Saikal (Comment, 30/9) for his thoughtful and courageous entry to the labyrinth of Middle East nuclear tensions. His thread of an exit strategy has many complicated turns but offers a credible hope that demands serious examination. Saikal canvasses diplomatic and political initiatives that might bring about a ”region-wide regime of arms control”, none so fanciful or utopian as to warrant the scorn or silence they are all too likely to meet in Australia.

Debate needed on nuclear weapons

Letter in The Age 01/10/09
CONGRATULATIONS to Amin Saikal (Comment, 30/9) for his thoughtful and courageous entry to the labyrinth of Middle East nuclear tensions. His thread of an exit strategy has many complicated turns but offers a credible hope that demands serious examination. Saikal canvasses diplomatic and political initiatives that might bring about a ”region-wide regime of arms control”, none so fanciful or utopian as to warrant the scorn or silence they are all too likely to meet in Australia.

Is Iran a threat, or is it the Occupation?

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald (23 Sept 2009) has an interesting op-ed piece by Middle East correspondent Jason Koutsoukis. But it doesn’t appear in the Melbourne Age, which is a great pity.
He notes:
” Last Friday, according to Jewish New Year’s tradition, Barak gave an interview to Israel’s biggest selling newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Instead of the usual palaver about the threats facing Israel, Barak surprised his questioners with this frank admission.
“Iran does not pose an existential threat to Israel,” said Barak.”

Is Iran a threat, or is it the Occupation?

Today’s Sydney Morning Herald (23 Sept 2009) has an interesting op-ed piece by Middle East correspondent Jason Koutsoukis. But it doesn’t appear in the Melbourne Age, which is a great pity.
He notes:
” Last Friday, according to Jewish New Year’s tradition, Barak gave an interview to Israel’s biggest selling newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
Instead of the usual palaver about the threats facing Israel, Barak surprised his questioners with this frank admission.
“Iran does not pose an existential threat to Israel,” said Barak.”

UNHCR Report on Gaza

The following is a verbatim cut and paste from the UN Press Release on the Goldstone report. Elswhere, it is reported that only a summary of the report is available. In fact, the full 575 pages can be downloaded.
Note the following statement at parag 20. By refusing to cooperate with the Mission, the Government of Israel prevented it from meeting Israeli government officials, but also from travelling to Israel to meet with Israeli victims and to the West Bank to meet with Palestinian Authority representatives and Palestinian victims.

A Parliamentarian for censorship

[This, of course, is an entirely personal opinion,and only reflects my views]
Michael Danby, the Australian Federal Member for Melbourne Ports has read into the Australian Parliamentary Record ‘Hansard‘ his version of a contretemps between the editors of the online magazine New Matilda and the commentary site Crikey.com. He has also republished the Hansard speech on his personal website, adding in mastheads of the offending publications in his claims about ‘hate speech’. Doubtless, his speech will be mailed out (at taxpayer’s expense) to everyone in the local electorate newsletter.

A Parliamentarian for censorship

[This, of course, is an entirely personal opinion,and only reflects my views]
Michael Danby, the Australian Federal Member for Melbourne Ports has read into the Australian Parliamentary Record ‘Hansard‘ his version of a contretemps between the editors of the online magazine New Matilda and the commentary site Crikey.com. He has also republished the Hansard speech on his personal website, adding in mastheads of the offending publications in his claims about ‘hate speech’. Doubtless, his speech will be mailed out (at taxpayer’s expense) to everyone in the local electorate newsletter.