Penny Wong
In defence of the middle ground on Gaza
Rodger Shanahan perfectly sums up the disturbing nature of Middle East commentary, where “advocates press hard for their side without conceding any ground to the other”.
Latest
Updated
Russia-Ukraine war
Australia to reopen embassy in Kyiv almost three years after Russian invasion
The government had been encouraged by President Volodymyr Zelensky to reopen the embassy, while other senior Ukrainians had expressed frustration with the government’s reluctance to return.
- by Rob Harris
Exclusive
Foreign relations
‘Command and control’: Labor’s cuts to hawkish think tank raises hackles
A think tank set to be one of the losers from the decision was several years ago named by Chinese officials on an infamous list of 14 grievances.
- by Matthew Knott
No apologies: Wong gives her side of the story of the call with Israel
Israel’s foreign minister has accused Penny Wong of abandoning Israel in its most difficult year during a phone conversation that turned sour.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Australian troops could play role in Ukraine peace deal
Australian and British ministers hold talks amid pressure from Donald Trump for European countries to consider sending troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers.
- by Rob Harris
Liberals’ ‘broad church’ has become a pervasive sect
Behind the Liberal banner, reasonableness has been steadily squeezed out and, with supreme irony, the breadth of its ranks has been shrivelled to exclude moderation, pragmatism, compromise and tolerance.
Inside the fiery meeting that would define the government’s relationship with Israel
Fallout from the war in Gaza has created a deepening rift in relations between Australia and Israel. The hostilities are political and personal.
- by Matthew Knott
Opinion
Middle East tensions
Netanyahu’s rebuke of Albanese is weak and unprovable but serves his purposes
Israel’s prime minister sees himself as the ultimate defender of Israel against an international left that he portrays as hostile and complicit in antisemitism.
- by Dan Perry
Updated
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli president urges Albanese to crack down on antisemitism in firebombing’s wake
Isaac Herzog spoke personally with the prime minister to tell Australian leaders to take “firm and strong” action to protect the Jewish community.
- by Paul Sakkal, James Massola and Matthew Knott
‘Shameless’: Peak Jewish group says Labor betrayed Israel at UN
Labor’s relationship with Israel has sunk to new lows, with the nation’s peak Jewish group declaring Australia’s longstanding bipartisan support for Israel has essentially vanished.
- by Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Australia to switch stance on UN votes as a pathway to two-state solution
The Albanese government is preparing to again anger Israel by changing Australia’s stance in a series of high-profile votes on the Middle East peace process.
- by Matthew Knott
Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/penny-wong-4rh