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Outrageous lobbying - and a disgraceful capitulation

Those who do not like what is being taught or published about Israel, or the place of Israel in the Middle East in relation to Palestine, know no bounds in "pushing" their line and attempting to stifle anything written, spoken or taught which doesn't accord with their pro-Israel position.

Crikey has exposed the most outrageous "complaint" [really?] about an educational simulation conducted at a Sydney High School - and then the immediate backdown [capitulation?] by the NSW Education Department:

"I recently reported for Crikey on alleged anti-Israel bias of educational simulations on the Israel/Palestine conflict conducted by Macquarie University’s Centre for Middle East and North African Studies. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and The Australian have both conducted a campaign to stigmatise the simulations as pro-terrorist, pro-Palestinian and anti-US (though the simulations ended late last year.)

Crikey has now discovered that the popular simulations were cancelled after only one complaint. I have obtained the initial letter that was sent to the headmaster of Killara High School in mid-2004. It alleged "pro-Palestinian bias" and concern that "pro-Israeli or pro-US [roles] are given a negative connotation". The parents contacted the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies with their complaint, and the Board then demanded a meeting with the school’s principal (which he granted.)"

As you read the entire piece be concerned how McCarthyism takes hold in Australia. We will all be the losers in one way or another.

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