Watershed moment for nation’s democracy

The headline (“Abandonment of Israel”, 5-6/10) says it all. As an octogenarian Australian I am extremely proud of my country but, sadly for me, for the first time I am ashamed of my federal government, which has lost its judgment and moral compass. One only has to read Henry Ergas’s piece (“Searching for Sepharad”, 5-6/10) about the Sephardic Jews to realise that what is currently tolerated in Australia is reminiscent of the start of nearly every period of Jewish persecution. I fear for the future of Australian democracy and our belief in a fair go, as I fear for what my progeny will have to face as a result of present government weakness.

Noel Hicks, Griffith, NSW

The moral courage shown by NSW Premier Chris Minns over the October 7 anniversary pro-Palestinian protest marchers in our major cities highlights a watershed moment for the Left and Right factions of the Australian Labor Party. Who would have thought the baby boomers of the Labor Left who marched in unison with the Labor Right in the anti-Vietnam war protests of the 1960s are now marching side-by-side through our city streets with those who have sworn to wipe every Jewish person from the Middle East? Labor, the party that has always prided itself as the human rights champion of the Aussie underdog, is tearing itself apart morally and politically over Israel, a country that is fighting for its existence in a region of fanatical anti-Semitic hatred.

Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong are now facing Labor’s greatest challenge of the millennium, perhaps in its history since Federation, to unite a critically fractured party that is facing moral and political bankruptcy in the Australian electorate.

John Bell, Heidelberg Heights, Vic

The strong defence of Israel’s legitimate sovereignty, together with its denunciation of the abhorrent acts of terrorism by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and their puppetmaster Iran (“Israel must be defended in fight between good and evil”, 5-6/10) demonstrates again that The Australian is the country’s leading media outlet. Prevarication from the Albanese government and anti-Semitism within sections of the Greens and academe have encouraged violent acts against Jewish people within our community. The safety of our Jewish neighbours must be guaranteed. Before anarchy takes hold, support for terrorists must be stamped out by our governments using all available legal means.

William Kininmonth, Docklands, Vic

Last week the Australian National Imams Council, which represents 300 imams and Islamic organisations, wrote to publishers, editors and journalists. The council provided guidance to the media on how it should responsibly report the anniversary of the events of October 7 last year. Clearly anticipating trouble on Monday, they advised journalists to describe any protests “in context” (“Contextual reporting of Israel-Palestine focus of Imam demands”, 3/10). Nowhere do the imams advise reporters to point out that the context is that a year ago Hamas murdered the greatest number of Jews since the Holocaust. Nor do they advise journalists to highlight that it would be morally wrong to conduct protests on a day that commemorates the brutal Hamas attack on Israel.

There’s no advocacy by the imams for any kind of interfaith dialogue given the rise of anti-Semitism in Australia. In ignoring what transpired on October 7 last year the council’s diktat to publishers on journalistic practice and ethics is inappropriate, especially in a democracy with a free press. Strategic experts are warning that the anti-Semitism, hatred and violent excesses of the protests are leading to a terror attack just around the corner. State and federal police claim a threshold must be met before they press any charges. Flying Hezbollah flags under police supervision clearly doesn’t meet the threshold. Perhaps those in authority are waiting for the protesters to set up a bouncy castle without a permit.

Anthony Bergin, Reid, ACT

The Australian National Imams Council wants journalists to report on the anniversary of Hamas’s barbaric attacks last October in context. I agree. Journalists should report the story of Fawzia Sido, a young Yazidi woman who was kidnapped as an 11-year-old by Islamic State in northern Iraq in 2014. In the decade since, she was held captive in Gaza, forcibly married to a Gazan jihadist and became a mother of a boy and a girl. She was rescued by Israeli security forces with American help and last week was reunited with her family. Perhaps the Australian National Imams Council could be asked to comment on this context of the nexus between ISIS and Hamas?

Rames Thakur, Ocean Shores, NSW

Peter Jennings’ suggestions to deal with the current discord in this country are all worthy (“Tolerating these street protests has incubated extremism”, 5-6/10). His final suggestion references “Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions”. According to former International Atomic Energy Agency deputy director Olli Heinonen, it is 11 minutes to midnight. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is a nightmare for the West.

Accordingly, it’s disappointing that Joe Biden has telegraphed that a strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities is off limits. He may think that to sanction such an attack would offend the remnants of the Iran nuclear deal, or he could be exercising caution in the shadow of the US presidential election, but in any event Iran will be emboldened and free to continue its weapons-grade enrichment program with impunity. It’s likely that Israel will prevail against the forces of Hamas and Hezbollah but it will be a Pyrrhic victory.

When Iran has its nuclear arsenal all bets are off – in effect the snake will be whole again. It’s now or never for Israel: it must – with or without the grace of its great ally – mount an assault on these facilities before it’s too late.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

Peter Jennings offers a much needed and constructive plan to control what we can, and hence stop the tail wagging the dog. Federal legislation prepared in consultation with the states and territories – and where necessary a firm hand – must be put in place so that all six elements of Jennings’ template are ticked.

Richard Worland, Manifold Heights, Vic

The events in southern Israel a year ago have triggered an expansion of the war in the Middle East that threatens Israel’s existence, and continues to shape the response of all Western liberal governments, terrified by the apocalyptic potential of nuclear confrontation. All of this, brought about by the grotesque brutality of a ragtag band of Palestinian guerrillas on motor bikes.

The astonishing support provided by pro-Palestinian activists, university campers and the Greens, combined with the federal government’s cries for an immediate ceasefire and recognition of a Hamas-ruled state, leads a reasonable observer to believe the brutes of October 7 have been successful beyond their wildest dreams. Our harmonious multiculturalism seems to have disappeared in an ugly welter of anti-Semitism. I fear, whatever the outcome of the current conflict in the Middle East, the destabilisation of world security, already wobbly from Taiwan to Ukraine, will take a nosedive from which liberal democracies will not recover. The opportunities for demagogues and authoritarian states to take advantage of the nervous and shillyshally responses appear manifold.

Norman Moore, Bangalow, NSW

Your editorial asserts: “Hamas, not Israel, is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths in Gaza and untold suffering.” For your readers’ deep consideration, if Hamas-like terrorists were using Israeli civilians as human shields, would Israel attempt to neutralise these terrorists by repeated airstrikes on hospitals, schools and refugee camps thereby “unintentionally” killing numerous Israeli women and children?

Andrew Hede, Galston, NSW

Israel is engaged in conflict with various terrorist organisations supported by Iran. For years, Iran has sought to attack Israel indirectly through these proxy groups while steering clear of direct involvement. This “ring of fire” strategy, however, has taken a dramatic turn. Iran’s recent launch of 200 ballistic missiles at Israel marks a significant escalation, effectively provoking a direct Israeli response.

Simultaneously, Iran is nearing the critical threshold for developing nuclear weapons, raising alarm over the true intentions of its leadership. The regime in Tehran, driven by an extreme religious ideology and deep-seated animosity towards Israel, would likely direct a nuclear weapon towards Tel Aviv if given the chance. Israel must reject misguided calls for de-escalation and, while difficult to achieve, take action to neutralise Iran’s nuclear facilities. Despite President Joe Biden’s cautioning against such a move, it is likely that many in his administration would quietly support it.

As foreign editor Greg Sheridan notes, this may trigger a broader conflict involving the US and perhaps other sunni Muslim nations, especially Saudi Arabia (“Israel’s war in defence of global order”, 5-6/10). However, a decisive defeat of Iran could lead to regime change and bring stability to the Middle East.

This would open avenues for economic co-operation and eventually pave the way for the much-touted land bridge connecting Asia and Europe.

John Kempler, Rose Bay, NSW