Tuesday 9 March 2010
2pm
Parliament House Canberra
Joint Press conference
Kevin Rudd – Prime Minister
Tony Abbott – Leader of the Opposition

Thank you everyone for coming here today. What you are about to witness is an historic event. In honour of International Women's Day 2010 and in light of Mr Abbott's announcement yesterday this government, with the support of the Opposition is going to introduce a Paid Parental Leave scheme of 6 months duration beginning on 1st July 2010.

Bteslem, the Israel Human Rights Organization in the Occupied Territories reports --

On 3 February 2010, the Hamas government submitted a 52-page report to the UN in advance of the debate in the General Assembly on the report of the Goldstone Fact-finding Mission. The Hamas report discusses, among other things, the measures the government has taken to implement the mission’s recommendations and the investigations it has carried out regarding breach of international law committed by its forces during Operation Cast Lead, and provides clarifications relating to attacks from within the Gaza Strip against civilians and civilian objects in Israel.

Various versions of this letter were published in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian today.

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The morality of extra-judicial killings is an extraordinarily difficult one, because they undermine the principle of the rule of law and particularly international law. Who would not have wanted to get rid of Hitler?

Noam Chomsky opposes BDS on the ground that it is hypocritical and impractical. Supporting BDS only reinforces hardliners who support Israeli actions. He distinguishes between 'feelgood' and 'do good actions'.

Once again, our community 'elders' have banned a dissident opinion from speaking on a community platform. There is all sorts of denial going on, but its clear that Danny Lamm, representing the local right-wing Zionist Federation has used or got others to use muscle and other forms of influence to prevent the Union of Progressive Judaism from hosting Naomi Chazan, now President of the New Israel Fund. The excuse has been to use the completely scurrilous campaign being run by young neo-facists and their elder supporters in Israel and the US against the NIF.

Despite the fact that a year has passed since the start of the Gaza military operation, the damage caused by three weeks of war and the near total closure preceding it has yet to be repaired. The reason: Israel's ongoing policy blocking goods from entering the Gaza Strip, including a near total ban on reconstruction materials.

The Gisha site provides considerable detail on the facts of the situation, with links to 'official' spin.

The infection of nationalism has long-affected the naming of places in Israel, with many Arab place names being changed to Hebraized versions after 1948. Of course, the spray-painting of signs in Arabic is a not unfamiliar site in Jerusalem.

I have been through there a couple of times, and that's enough. It's disgusting and degrading, even having an Australian passport doesn't stop the dirty looks and ritualized humiliation.But let a Palestinian speak for her frequent experience.

Qalandiya's Horrors By Joharah Baker for MIFTAH
December 23, 2009

Anyone who knows me knows how much I hate to cross Qalandiya checkpoint.

In October 2009, Geneva Initiative commissioned a public opinion poll on a representative sample of the Israeli public regarding the peace process and the current government's performance.

With respect to the Geneva Initiative, the majority of the Israeli public (56%) supports an endgame agreement along the Geneva Accord principles; however, as in the past the majority of Israelis (55%) does not believe that such an agreement is possible.

It is important to remember that the Geneva Initiative is the result of work by both Palestinians and Israelis committed to a middle way--no ifs, no buts, but coming to an agreement.

The summary of the accords includes:

Accord principles:

* End of conflict. End of all claims.
* Mutual recognition of Israeli and Palestinian right to two separate states.
* A final, agreed upon border.
* A comprehensive solution to the refugee problem.
* Large settlement blocks and most of the settlers are annexed to Israel, as part of a 1:1 land swap.
* Recognition of the Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and recognition of the Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.
* A demilitarized Palestinian state.
* A comprehensive and complete Palestinian commitment to fighting terrorism and incitement.
* An international verification group to oversee implementation.

Description

The Geneva Accord is a model permanent status agreement between the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

The accord presents a comprehensive and unequivocal solution to all issues vital to ensuring the end of the conflict. Adopting the agreement and implementing it would bring about a solution to the historical conflict, a new chapter in Israeli-Palestinian relations, and, most importantly, the realization of the national visions of both parties. The extensive documentation that has been developed is necessary reading. The ideas in the documents allow us to rise beyond the day to day fray and avoidance tactics, to look to a solution.

Vanessa Redgrave, no shrinking violent in her opposition to Israeli policies, has made clear her opposition to cultural boycotts. She must have realised that this step would set loose the cat amongst the pigeons. [and a point of historical correction to the letter--Tel Aviv was builton sand dunes purchased from local beduin]. The text: see http://www.nybooks.com/articles/23192