"A coalition of prominent Australian Jews, including the philosopher Peter Singer, publisher Louise Adler and Robert Richter, QC, has sparked a furore in the Jewish community by announcing it will challenge what it sees as extreme pro-Israeli bias among Jews in Australia.
The group, Independent Australian Jewish Voices, has been criticised by some Jewish authorities for calling for more open debate on Israeli's treatment of Palestinians."
At last! A voice on Israel and Palestine other than shrill organisations like AIJAC. Read the report on this new "alternative" voice in the SMH. The Age reports on the new Group here. Needless to say the Colin Rubensteins of this world will be out with a vengeance attacking all and sundry in their usual offensive way - in the meantime avoiding the basic issue of Israel and its actions, the plight of the Palestinians, the now 40 year occupation of Palestinian land, the growing number of settlements in the West Bank, etc. etc.
The new Group's open letter, published in both newspapers, reads as follows:
"We are Jews with diverse opinions on the Middle East who share a deep concern about the current crisis in the region and have formed a group, Independent Australian Jewish Voices.
We are committed to ensuring a just peace that recognises the legitimate national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians with a solution that protects the human rights of all. We condemn violence by all parties, whether state sanctioned or not. We believe that Israel's right to exist must be recognised and that Palestinians' right to a homeland must also be acknowledged.
As Australians we are privileged to live in a democratic state that embodies the principles of tolerance and free speech. We feel there is an urgent need to hear alternative voices that should not be silenced by being labelled disloyal or "self-hating".
Uncritical allegiance to Israeli Government policy does not necessarily serve Israel's best interests. Our concern for justice and peace in the Middle East is a legitimate opinion and should be met by reasoned argument rather than vilification and intimidation.
In particular, we are concerned that the Jewish establishment does not represent the full range of Jewish opinion. Jews understand what it is to suffer racism and victimisation and therefore we are not only concerned about anti-Semitism but also the demonisation of all other minorities.
Dr Peter Slezak, Dr Jim Levy, Antony Loewenstein, Professor Peter Singer, Robert Richter QC, Louise Adler, Eva Cox, Professor Dennis Altman, Professor Arie Freiberg, Ian Cohen MLC, Professor Ivor Indyk, Moss Cass, Dr Geoffrey Brahm Levey, Professor Andrew Benjamin, Henry Rosenbloom, Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, Professor Ephraim Nimni, Professor David Goodman, and 100 other signatories."
The group, Independent Australian Jewish Voices, has been criticised by some Jewish authorities for calling for more open debate on Israeli's treatment of Palestinians."
At last! A voice on Israel and Palestine other than shrill organisations like AIJAC. Read the report on this new "alternative" voice in the SMH. The Age reports on the new Group here. Needless to say the Colin Rubensteins of this world will be out with a vengeance attacking all and sundry in their usual offensive way - in the meantime avoiding the basic issue of Israel and its actions, the plight of the Palestinians, the now 40 year occupation of Palestinian land, the growing number of settlements in the West Bank, etc. etc.
The new Group's open letter, published in both newspapers, reads as follows:
"We are Jews with diverse opinions on the Middle East who share a deep concern about the current crisis in the region and have formed a group, Independent Australian Jewish Voices.
We are committed to ensuring a just peace that recognises the legitimate national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians with a solution that protects the human rights of all. We condemn violence by all parties, whether state sanctioned or not. We believe that Israel's right to exist must be recognised and that Palestinians' right to a homeland must also be acknowledged.
As Australians we are privileged to live in a democratic state that embodies the principles of tolerance and free speech. We feel there is an urgent need to hear alternative voices that should not be silenced by being labelled disloyal or "self-hating".
Uncritical allegiance to Israeli Government policy does not necessarily serve Israel's best interests. Our concern for justice and peace in the Middle East is a legitimate opinion and should be met by reasoned argument rather than vilification and intimidation.
In particular, we are concerned that the Jewish establishment does not represent the full range of Jewish opinion. Jews understand what it is to suffer racism and victimisation and therefore we are not only concerned about anti-Semitism but also the demonisation of all other minorities.
Dr Peter Slezak, Dr Jim Levy, Antony Loewenstein, Professor Peter Singer, Robert Richter QC, Louise Adler, Eva Cox, Professor Dennis Altman, Professor Arie Freiberg, Ian Cohen MLC, Professor Ivor Indyk, Moss Cass, Dr Geoffrey Brahm Levey, Professor Andrew Benjamin, Henry Rosenbloom, Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, Professor Ephraim Nimni, Professor David Goodman, and 100 other signatories."
Comments
the daily rockets in Sderot;
the alarms, roadblocks, and manhunts across the country when a bomber gets in from the PA;
s summer in bomb shelters.
Perhaps they should, before they tell us what to do.