Following Saturday 7 October 2023 till the end of the year, from over 4000 immigrants a month only about 1000 a month were arriving in Israel, a 70% decline. during the same time about 470,000 Israelis fled the Jewish state.
“Therefore, there is a negative migration of about half a million people, and this does not include thousands of foreign workers, refugees, and diplomats who left the country.” [Anadolu Agency, 7 December]
Despite the support given to Netanyahu by the ruling parties across North America, much of Europe and Australia, one in four Israeli Jews and four in ten Arab Israelis would like to leave Israel, according to a new survey. This reflects “ a steady distrust with Israel’s political and military leadership.” [Rachel Fink, Haaretz, 17 July 2024]
International institutions are closing in
Haaretz published the stunning ICJ findings on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.
- Israel must end its presence in the occupied territories as soon as possible.
- Israel should immediately cease settlement expansion and evacuate all settlers from the occupied areas.
- Israel is required to make reparations for the damage caused to the local and lawful population in the Palestinian territories.
- The international community and organizations have a duty not to recognize the Israeli presence in the territories as legal and to avoid supporting its maintenance.
- The UN should consider what actions are necessary to end the Israeli presence in the territories as soon as possible. [Haaretz, 19 July 2024]
The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague within a fortnight is expected to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, according to Israel’s Channel 14. [Labour Heartlands, 18 July 2024]
Conflating opposition to genocide with anti-Semitism
The United States make much of the role of the Iranian Council of Guardians selecting acceptable candidates for political office, but ignore the role of their own Council of Guardians, AIPAC which decides on suitable candidates for office.
Jamal Bowman, once a recipient of lobby largesse, after seeing reality in Palestine on a J Street funded excursion, called Gaza a genocide and said boycotts were legitimate.
Israeli lobby groups spent $9.9m in a Democrat primary to get rid of him in favour of a supporter of Israel. [27 June 2024 Guardian ]
The scare campaign around rising anti-Semitism, which conflates criticism of Israel’s mass atrocities with prejudice against Jews, is a feature of most of the old colonial countries.
Mary Kostakidis one of Australia’s most respected journalists, who speaks truth to power, has written regarding the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
“In an effort to silence me, the Zionist Federation have filed a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission for racial vilification, aided by a reporter who can’t do his own research,” Kostakidis wrote on X last Sunday. [ 17 July 2024 Paul Gregoire Sydney Criminal Lawyers]
Another case of harassment and suspicious accusations have been levelled by the lobby against a Palestinian Australian engaged in anti-genocide activity.
Hash Tayeh who had to present himself to the police over alleged anti-Semitic comments was not charged and his matter has been referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions.
His Caulfield Burgertory outlet was set on fire, allegedly by two men, on 10 November 2023, an attack he claimed was linked to his involvement in a pro-Palestine rally and thus a hate crime. [Yahoo News, 19 July 2024 ]
Then we witnessed the arrest of a Palestinian activist in the PM’s electoral office.
Sarah Shaweesh who was asking about the delay in visas for her family in Gaza, was arrested.
The office refused to help her.
She is a key organiser of the 24/7 Gaza sit-in protest in front of the PM’s office. [Paul Gregoire Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 19 July 2024]
Complicity in genocide
In early March, a Sydney law firm Birchgrove Legal, lodged a communique with the ICC prosecutor presented a communiqué to International Criminal Court prosecutor claiming that the Australian PM and a number of other high level local politicians are complicit in the Gaza genocide.
On Tuesday 15 July, it announced that the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC had added the document “to the evidence gathered as part of the ICC’s investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine,” as well as having been transmitted “to relevant staff members for further review”. [Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 18 July]
Meanwhile Muslim Votes Matter is mobilising the anti-genocide vote in preparation for the next federal election.
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