LETTER TO THE WEST AUSTRALIAN (not published)
Reading the various reports recently about prominent ALP criticism of Israel raising the ire of Australian Jews has me concluding that some followers of Judaism (fortunately not the ones I know and respect) are a little too precious about their religious homeland. A land that is also of important significance to believers in Christianity and Islam.
Since when do Australian Anglicans get upset at criticism of UK policy? Do our Italian migrants or numerous Catholics claim bigotry when the world criticises the Vatican? Clearly, no, on both counts! But somehow Israel seeks special immunity to criticism, at least in the eyes of these few descendants of Abraham.
At the present time the world is vary wary of, if not prone to condemning, religious states. Why should Israel be any different? It is in breach of more UN resolutions than Afghanistan ever was under the Taliban. Israel deserves to be rebuked while it continues to be an aggressor-occupier.
I echo the words of Harry S. Truman in his recently discovered diary (West Australian, Sat 12/07/03) "Put an underdog on top ... and he goes haywire".
