The muddle east

It is not surprising that Eric Abetz writes so glowingly about what he calls the great democracy, Israel, in the year that has seen the election of its most right-wing government. This government’s new agenda espouses the framework for annexing the West Bank to Israel; diminishing the power of Israel’s judiciary; plans for expanding Jews-only settlements on

both sides of the Green Line; revoking the law banning discrimination based on religious beliefs that could enable doctors to refuse medical care to LGBTQ+ people if they claim it violates their religious beliefs and much more. Israel has made it clear that it intends to retain control over Palestinian territory indefinitely. But Mr Abetz says we should be grateful that it is the most democratic government in the Middle East!

2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in decades. The vast majority of the 231 killed came from the occupied West Bank. Among those killed were 39 children aged 17 and under, making them close to 27 per cent of the total deaths in the territory (Source: Mondoweiss 31/12/22).

Denigrating the UN and Palestinians who speak up, asking that Israel adheres to international law, will not diminish the reality of the oppression and injustice suffered by Palestinians and the ongoing illegal occupation by Israel. Israel has most recently been referred back to the International Court of Justice to render its 0pinion on the legality of Israel’s 55 -year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank. Unconditional support for Israel does not make the Middle East safe.

Peta Fitzgibbon

Sandy Bay