A Rudd Government will talk about pursuing the Road Map, a two-state solution, protecting Israel’s security and demonising Hamas. As a middle-power, Australia’s influence is minimal, but it should use whatever influence it does have to counsel the American administration to pressure the Israelis to cease construction of all settlements, release Palestinian political prisoners and isolate the rejectionists on both sides.
The Howard years were marked by a tendency to exploit, rather than control, racial divisions and many Jews were enthusiastic in sharing the government’s anti-Muslim tendencies.
These Jews should have known better and it is hoped that Rudd refuses to accept similar outbursts from supposed Jewish community leaders. Rudd is a devoted Christian and a realist who is unlikely to follow deluded neo-conservative nation building.
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A visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, as Tony Blair has now belatedly done, would be a welcome indication that he is keen to understand the daily realities of Israel’s brutal occupation.
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About the Author
Antony Loewenstein is a freelance journalist, author and blogger. He has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, Haaretz, The Guardian, Washington Post, Znet, Counterpunch and many other publications. He contributed a major chapter in the 2004 best seller, Not Happy, John!. He is author of the best-selling book My Israel Question, released in August 2006 by Melbourne University Publishing and re-published in 2009 in an updated edition. The book was short-listed for the 2007 NSW Premier's Literary Award. His 2008 book is The Blogging Revolution on the internet in repressive regimes. His website is at http://antonyloewenstein.com/ and he can be contacted at antloew@gmail.com.
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