Sonja Karkar - of Australians for Palestine and Women for Palestine - makes more than a valid point in an email sent out today, in relation to Ambassador Chas Freeman withdrawing his nomination as the Chairman of the US National Intelligence Agency [see immediately previous posting on MPS]:
"We do not normally send out articles on matters others than Palestine/Israel, but what just happened in the last few days when the eminent retired US Ambassador Chas Freeman’s withdrew his acceptance of the US administration’s invitation to chair the National Intelligence Council, serves as a powerful example of the immense influence the Zionist lobby has in the hallowed halls of the world’s super power. Chas Freeman’s statement makes no bones about the vicious stand-over tactics used by the Lobby to get their way on anything concerning Israel’s interests even to the detriment of the interests of the country in which they live. This kind of intimidation of not only governments, but also the media, church leaders, trade unions, human rights and aid organisations, academics, professionals and business leaders has been par for the course for decades and occasionally people in high places do admit that they choose the path of least resistance when the lobby demands their acquiescence. After all, who really wants to be accused of anti-Semitism and risk having one’s good name or the name of one’s organisation dragged through the mud for criticising Israel, even though criticising Israel has nothing to do with being anti-Semitic? Defending the human rights of Palestinians is not anti-Semitic nor is it supporting terrorism, but the lobby screams with indignation if anyone even murmurs some sort of sympathy.
Chas Freeman‘s withdrawal is a real loss for the Obama administration, the American people and the rest of the world. There are few who have the courage to face up to these bullies. In his statement below, Freeman explains why he decided to come out of well-earned retirement to again give loyal service to his country and why he felt he had no choice but to withdraw after the unscrupulous attacks against him. It serves as a reminder to all people in high office that some time soon Israel’s lobby groups can no longer be mindlessly indulged if the good of the country and the people are to be served. And to those of us who constantly feel sidelined by the intervention of the Israel first lobby groups, Chas Freeman’s statement has at least opened the door to the shenanigans that shamefully led a former Australian foreign minister to say “I wear Israel as a badge of honour” when Israel was raining bombs down on Lebanon and Gaza, and Mr Rudd, now prime minister, to say that “Israel is in my DNA”.
Today, the leader of our country’s opposition party Malcolm Turnbull MP will be attending the United Israel Appeal at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. No doubt it will be attended by the who’s who of Melbourne’s society all wanting to be seen as supporting Israel. A picket will be gathering outside at 6.00pm to remind them that the money raised will be going to fund Israel’s criminal activities – the funding of Jewish migration to Israel where most will be settled in complexes being illegally built in the occupied Palestinian West Bank and East Jerusalem. Chas Freeman’s statement ought to give them pause to reconsider ingratiating themselves with the Israel lobby which is increasingly being shown up as a shoddy operation for interests that have nothing to do with Australia’s own good standing in the international community."
"We do not normally send out articles on matters others than Palestine/Israel, but what just happened in the last few days when the eminent retired US Ambassador Chas Freeman’s withdrew his acceptance of the US administration’s invitation to chair the National Intelligence Council, serves as a powerful example of the immense influence the Zionist lobby has in the hallowed halls of the world’s super power. Chas Freeman’s statement makes no bones about the vicious stand-over tactics used by the Lobby to get their way on anything concerning Israel’s interests even to the detriment of the interests of the country in which they live. This kind of intimidation of not only governments, but also the media, church leaders, trade unions, human rights and aid organisations, academics, professionals and business leaders has been par for the course for decades and occasionally people in high places do admit that they choose the path of least resistance when the lobby demands their acquiescence. After all, who really wants to be accused of anti-Semitism and risk having one’s good name or the name of one’s organisation dragged through the mud for criticising Israel, even though criticising Israel has nothing to do with being anti-Semitic? Defending the human rights of Palestinians is not anti-Semitic nor is it supporting terrorism, but the lobby screams with indignation if anyone even murmurs some sort of sympathy.
Chas Freeman‘s withdrawal is a real loss for the Obama administration, the American people and the rest of the world. There are few who have the courage to face up to these bullies. In his statement below, Freeman explains why he decided to come out of well-earned retirement to again give loyal service to his country and why he felt he had no choice but to withdraw after the unscrupulous attacks against him. It serves as a reminder to all people in high office that some time soon Israel’s lobby groups can no longer be mindlessly indulged if the good of the country and the people are to be served. And to those of us who constantly feel sidelined by the intervention of the Israel first lobby groups, Chas Freeman’s statement has at least opened the door to the shenanigans that shamefully led a former Australian foreign minister to say “I wear Israel as a badge of honour” when Israel was raining bombs down on Lebanon and Gaza, and Mr Rudd, now prime minister, to say that “Israel is in my DNA”.
Today, the leader of our country’s opposition party Malcolm Turnbull MP will be attending the United Israel Appeal at Melbourne’s Crown Casino. No doubt it will be attended by the who’s who of Melbourne’s society all wanting to be seen as supporting Israel. A picket will be gathering outside at 6.00pm to remind them that the money raised will be going to fund Israel’s criminal activities – the funding of Jewish migration to Israel where most will be settled in complexes being illegally built in the occupied Palestinian West Bank and East Jerusalem. Chas Freeman’s statement ought to give them pause to reconsider ingratiating themselves with the Israel lobby which is increasingly being shown up as a shoddy operation for interests that have nothing to do with Australia’s own good standing in the international community."
Comments