It’s always good news for Australian Jews when Australian politicans choose to check out the facts for themselves, let’s just hope they get enough unbiased information to be able to form an informed opinion.
Apparently Julia Gillard (our Deputy Prime Minister) will be meeting with “senior government members” in Israel after a trip to the USA where she will meet with the Obama administration. She will be taking with her former treasurer Peter Costello, Liberal frontbenchers Chris Pyne and George Brandis, and Labor backbenchers Mike Kelly and Mark Dreyfus.
Ms Gillard will be leading a delegation to the inaugural Australia Israel Leadership Forum.
To quote Ms Gillard, “It will provide an excellent opportunity to build stronger ties between our two nations and their people,”
“I know from my previous visit the intensity and diversity of Israel’s people, how their situation encourages innovation, commitment and lively democratic discussion of the issues facing the country and the world.”
and further:
“I intend to reaffirm Australia’s ongoing support for Israel’s right to live in peace and security within defined borders.”
Fantastic!
But then:
“I will also reiterate that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East must be based on a two-state solution to the conflict.”
She will also visit Ramallah and meet leaders of the Palestinian Authority.
Good to see she’ll look at both sides, but let’s hope she gets enough information to see what is really going on.
Unfortunately I can’t remember where I saw this (within the last week), but apparently a large proportion of Israeli Arabs would prefer to live under Israeli rule, as they get all sorts of benefits (such as a government that works and provides health care etc.) as opposed to living under the Palestinian Authority, which diverts it’s money to terrorism, war and threatening it’s people. If anyone can find the link to that info, would be much appreciated.
Thanks to Arutz Sheva, The Australian Jewish News and The Australian for breaking that story.