The Zionist lobby, antisemitism and Herzog |
Australia’s political and media response to Gaza, including the invitation to Israel’s president, reflects the influence of pro-Israel lobbying and the shrinking space for lawful criticism.
The powerful Zionist lobby has our political, media and academic class bluffed. Not surprisingly the lobby has seized the initiative following the tragic Bondi killings.
The lobby invited the Israeli President Herzog to visit Australia before it was considered by the Australian Government. Then, true to form, the Australian government followed and issued a formal invitation for the visit. The tail wagging the dog!
The Zionist lobby in the US effectively commands the support of the two major parties. The same is true in Australia. Few opinion leaders in Australia are prepared to defy the lobby.
John Lyons of the ABC in Pearls and Irritations on 4 October 2021 said: “In 40 years of journalism I’ve dealt with some smart and powerful lobby groups. But none compares to the pro-Israel lobby in Australia. It is formidable, well-funded and effective…. Says senior journalist Peter Greste: “personally I think the pressure that the Israeli lobby places on Australian journalists is frankly outrageous”.
In the name of balance our media gives credibility to Israeli propaganda. No one would think that we should give equal treatment to those who deny the Holocaust. Neither should we give balance to those who deny the continuing Holocaust in Gaza today.
None of our media have taken seriously the assassination of almost 300 Palestinian journalists and assistants by the IDF. The National Press Club withdrew an invitation to Chris Hedges a world renowned journalist about the failed western media coverage of the genocide.
So much of our media, including, shamefully, the ABC is intimidated by the Zionist lobby and Zionist propagandists. In our mainstream media Palestinians and Muslims are treated as much less human and less valuable than white Jews and white Christians. Just contrast the media coverage of Christian Ukraine and Muslim Gaza.
Israelis and their defenders consistently play the victim game but refuse to accept that the victims of the Holocaust in Europe are now the perpetrators of a new Holocaust in Gaza.
I have not seen or heard the lobby say one word against the genocide. It attacks those Jews who opposes the genocide. Those Jews believe that “never again” embraces all humanity, Jews and Palestinians alike.
Are only Zionists allowed to grieve? Are we expected to be silent about Palestinian grief?
Speaking of Zionist lobbying, Bob Carr – former Premier of NSW and Foreign Minister – put it this way in Pearls and Irritations on 2 December 2021: “My experience as Premier and Foreign Minister confirms that the (Israeli) lobbying exceeded that marshalled by any other diaspora community. As Foreign Minister on my first visit to the UN I released a very routine statement noting the latest burst of Israeli........