Hamas? Hamas Who?

geoffff

There are 809 Australian federal and state politicians. Thirty** of them have signed the letter reproduced below.  About 4%. 

You might think that is evidence of how marginal in Australian politics the Israel bashing business is at a time of war and determined terrorist attack, but I find the figure threatening. 

Curious that what follows is the only reference in the letter to the  missile attack on the civilian population of Israel. There is no mention at all of the vast tunnel enterprise and the enormous resources devoted to it since the last hudna less than two years ago. That Hamas is waging a barbaric and cowardly war from behind women, children, the schools and the main hospital is just not in the calculation. 

The rockets fired from Gaza are not in any way justified and insofar as they threaten and harm civilians are illegal under international law. However, these imprecise rockets cannot be compared with the broad‐scale bombing of Gaza by Israel which has one of the world’s largest military forces.

The most irritating piece of this snippet of bloody minded indifference and callous pig ignorance? It's hard. It's nearly all there but do consider the hedge

...insofar as they threaten and harm civilians are illegal under international law. 

Do they ever not threaten and harm civilians? What are they saying? In so far as they threaten and harm soldiers in Israel they are NOT illegal under international law? As the rockets are fired at random perhaps these politicians will calculate the proportion that are illegal based on the civilian numbers of those harmed and threatened.

These instinctive enemies of Israelis under attack can not bring themselves to unconditionally condemn even the most vicious terrorism if the victims are Israelis. There has to be a hedge no matter how spurious.   

Hamas is not mentioned in the letter at all. As if the mere breath of a word about the  terror regime that rules Gaza and is trying to murder as many Jews as it can might blow away the insane illusion that it is the Israelis who are the enemies and oppressors of the people of Gaza. 

The letter and those responsible for it follow. These have been colour coded by party affiliation for your convenience. Contact details for the ALP members are also provided. This blog may wait until the next election is announced. Then again it may not. 

Nick Zenophon is in a category of his own and has been allocated his own colour. He has form. An expert on "international law", (aren't they all?), this Australian lawmaker is an advocate of the "back to the ghetto, Jews" solution. 

It's the law, you know. 

** Updated. There are now 54 of them (and Malcolm Fraser)

LETTER. 25 July 2014

We the undersigned members of Australian federal and state parliaments, call on all Australian politicians to condemn the ongoing Israeli military bombardment and invasion of Gaza .

We call on Australian politicians to support an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire deal which includes an end to Israel 's occupation of the Palestinian territories and to the blockade of Gaza .

We call on all Australian politicians to also support the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision to launch an independent inquiry into purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory , including East Jerusalem .

Over 1200* Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, since Israel started its military attack on Gaza three weeks ago. The United Nations says at least 75 percent of the dead are civilians, including an estimated 168 children. In the last two days, Palestinian children have been killed at a rate of one per hour.

The rockets fired from Gaza are not in any way justified and insofar as they threaten and harm civilians are illegal under international law. However, these imprecise rockets cannot be compared with the broad-scale bombing of Gaza by Israel which has one of the world's largest military forces.

Collective punishment is not permitted under the Geneva conventions and is a war crime.

Hospitals, places of worship, and a centre for people with disabilities have been among the Israeli military's targets.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) is providing shelter to more than 102,788 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The international community including Australia has a vital responsibility to put pressure on Israel to end its current military attack on Gaza and broker a solution of justice and peace.

*updated 30 July 2014

Signed by -  

1. Maria Vamvakinou MP*  contact 
2. Melissa Parke MP* contact
3. Laurie Ferguson MP* contact
4. Alan Griffin MP* contact
5. Sharon Claydon MP* contact
6. Adam Bandt MP
7. Barbara Perry MP* contact
8. Andrew Giles MP
9. Paul Lynch MP* (this guy NSW shadow Minister)
10. Jamie Parker MP
11. Lynda Voltz MLC* contact  
12. Shaoquett Moselmane MLC*
13. David Shoebridge MLC
14. Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC
15. Dr John Kaye MLC
16. Jeremy Buckingham MLC
17. Jan Barham MLC
18. Senator Claire Moore*
19. Senator Nick Xenophon
20. Senator Christine Milne
21. Senator Lee Rhiannon
22. Senator Sarah Hanson‐Young
23. Senator Larissa Waters
24. Senator Janet Rice
25. Senator Richard Di Natale
26. Senator Penny Wright
27. Senator Rachel Siewert
28. Senator Scott Ludlam
29. Senator Peter Whish‐Wilson
30. Senator Sue Lines   *

31. Tammy Franks MLC, Greens
32. Graham Perrett MP, Labor
33. Senator Anne Urquhart, Labor
34. Terri Butler MP, Labor
35. Julie Owens MP, Labor
36. Lisa Chesters MP, Labor
37. Senator Gavin Marshall, Labor
38. Senator Anne McEwen , Labor
39. Senator Carol Brown, Labor
40. Senator Doug Cameron, Labor
41. Cassy O'Connor MLA, Greens
42. Senator Jan McLucas, Labor
43. Lynn MacLaren MLC, Greens
44. Jill Hall MP, Labor
45. Jackie Trad MP, Labor
46. Malcolm Fraser, former Liberal Prime Minister
47. Shane Rattenbury MLA, Greens
48. Yvette Berry MLA, Labor
49. Bronwyn Halfpenny MP, Labor
50. Tony Piccolo MP, Labor
51. Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent
52. Senator Lisa Singh, Labor
53. Khalil Eideh MP, Labor
54. Lee Tarlamis MP, Labor
55. Johan Scheffer MP, Labor.