Former PM: Get Real!

The piece will draw criticism from the usual suspects, but for the former Australian PM, Malcolm Fraser, to write - and for that matter The Age to publish the piece - about how Israel, and the rest of the world, must see things for what they are in the Middle east, is more than encouraging.

As Fraser, rightly, says, like it or not, Hamas was democratically elected, and refusing to acknowledge that fact and engage in negotiations with it, is to the detriment of the entire Middle East. Furthermore, Fraser, again rightly, says that Israel must be stopped from developing those wretched settlements in the West bank and East Jerusalem.

"Australia could urge, as others have done, that Hamas be brought in from the cold. But do we have the courage? In doing so, we would be a real partner of the US contributing to peace in the Middle East and removing an important source and inspiration for fundamentalist terrorists.

"Fear of criticism from the Jewish lobby in Australia has so far prevented Australian governments taking effective action. If we want to be a real ally to the US, if we want justice and peace, we have an opportunity.

Read the full piece "The isolation of Hamas is impeding peace" here.

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