An, initiated by Jews Against the Occupation ’48, demands Labor act in accordance with international law.
It levels serious charges against the government for ignoring the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Conventions (specifically the Genocide Convention, the Children’s Rights Convention and the Refugee Rights Convention).
“We had expected ethically coherent and legally appropriate actions from you in response to the unspeakable harm Israel has unleashed on Palestine,” it said.
“We have been hoping and waiting in vain. Nothing in the past twelve months has propelled you into meaningful action.”
It states that “no number” of dead, maimed or traumatised children, civilians and destroyed infrastructure, including hospitals, homes and religious sites, “has awoken any humanitarian impulse” or “prompted any recourse to appropriate diplomatic response”.
“You must be aware of the ongoing horror … You know, or should know, that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledges activating the Hannibal Directive, thus deliberately killing many Israelis lest they become hostages; that no babies were beheaded; and that there is no verifiable evidence of systematic rape.
“Furthermore, Israel refuses to cooperate with the UN body attempting to report on the horrific events of that day.”
Israel’s genocidal war on the Palestinian people did not begin on October 8 last year, it states.
The letter points out that Israel has made it clear it does not want a ceasefire and asks why the Australian government does not seem worried that its trade with Israel, including in weapons and through its provision of diplomatic cover, makes Australia complicit in Israel’s crimes.
“After more than a year of prevarication and appalling inaction, do you deserve the benefit of the doubt?”
“We want to know why you have not implemented the most peaceful and effective way of bringing this hellish catastrophe to an end: a complete boycott, sanctions, and divestment policy on Israel.”
The conclusions from the open letter are obvious: it is demanding the government act, as “History will not absolve Israel, nor its allies, be they wilfully blind or not”.
[Read the and add your name and email admin@jao48australia.org to add your name, organisation, title and/or position, if any.]