Fraser must tell the naked and unadorned truth on Palestine

The Jewish community…well not all the community…because I have had many letters, I've got many letters in my office in the files that say "No we don't agree with the publicly proclaimed leaders of the community in Melbourne. We take a different view." But they're not going to say so publicly. The Jewish community seek to get Australia to support policies as defined by Israel. Look, Israel years ago, during one of the wars, killed 30 or 40 Americans on a spy ship in the western (sic) Mediterranean.

Faine: That was a mistaken missile hit, if I remember correctly, or an air strike. I can't remember.

Fraser: Well, the Americans tried to cover it up. It wasn't a mistake. It was deliberate.

Faine: You believe so?

Fraser: Yes.

Faine: Based on what?

Fraser: Information I have. I am not going to tell you the source.

You revealed there were an undisclosed number of publicity shy Australian Jewish citizens who had previously written to you requesting you not to accept the views of the organised Jewish community leaders supporting policies as defined by Israel differing from theirs.

That argument was your perfect entitlement to accept and theirs to make - but you can't have it both ways.

Being ready to reject the views of these community leaders knowing this could lead to possibly losing votes if the majority of Jewish voters they represented were unhappy with your decision does indeed suggest you were a politician of principle – a rare phenomenon in politics.

So why allege excessive power-wielding when you were prepared to dismiss their submissions even if it cost you votes in sending them back to Melbourne empty-handed – which is what you actually did?

But far worse – you told the interviewer you believed that the Americans had deliberately covered up an attack on the USS Liberty on 8 June 1967 at the height of the Six Day War.

When asked to provide the evidence to substantiate your claim - you refused to reveal the source.

Prime Minister - six American investigations into these claims resulted in the following findings:

• C.I.A. report June 13, 1967: No malice; attack a mistake
• U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry June 18, 1967: Mistaken identity
• Report by Clark Clifford July 18, 1967: No evidence ship was known to be American
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 1979/1981: No merit to claims attack was intentional
• National Security Agency 1981: Mistaken identity
• House Armed Services Committee 1991/1992: No support for claims attack was intentional

Refusing to substantiate your highly damaging claim on public radio after it was challenged as being factually inaccurate - is surely conduct unbecoming of a former Prime Minister.

Prime Minister - On 14^th October 1986 you were discovered in the foyer of a seedy Memphis hotel wearing only a towel and a dazed expression.

Have you been caught out with no clothes on once again? Will remaining silent on America's cover up enhance your credibility?

Do we believe you or six American investigations?