[1]Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Turnbull meet in Sydney. Screenshot SkyNews Australia from 22 February 2017.
The arrival of Benjamin Netanyahu heralds the first official visit of an Israeli prime minister to Australia. However, it has not been welcomed by all.
The Wire [2], a current affairs program on community and Indigenous radio stations, canvassed some of the issues with Dr. Peter Slezak, co-founder of the organization Independent Australian Jewish Voices and a board member of the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network, and Peter Wertheim, executive director of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
Slezak cited Israel's occupation [3] of Palestine, the settlements built in the occupied territories and Israel's West Bank wall [4] as examples of breaches of international law and human rights. On the other hand, Wertheim argued that the visit is about the Australia/Israel relationship, not about specific politics of the day. The two also discussed issues related to calls to boycott Israeli businesses that profit from the occupation. You can listen to the full segment here:
Sixty “prominent” Australians released a statement highly critical [6] (PDF) of the trip:
[…] over the last 50 years, Israel has held the people of Palestine under military occupation and: continues to illegally build settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; continues to confiscate Palestinian land; continues to demolish Palestinian homes; continues its policy of imprisonment of Palestinians without trial even of children as young as 12; and continues its blockade of the 1.8 million civilian inhabitants of Gaza.
We want all Israelis and Palestinians to have peace and freedom; we oppose all forms of terrorism and criminal violence by either side. We recognise when there is a gross imbalance of power, conflict will never be resolved. Mr Netanyahu’s policies consistently aim to provoke, intimidate and oppress the Palestinian population which increase that imbalance, thus taking Israel irretrievably further from peace. These policies are inconsistent with Australian values and beliefs and we should not welcome him here.
Australia's conservative Turnbull government has been effusive but received some harsh criticism on social media:
The grovelling to that duplicitous thug Netanyahu is truly demeaning.
— Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) February 22, 2017 [7]
Oz praised by international pariah Netanyahu as a ‘clear eyed nation’ how has our gov become such ingrates to someone so unworthy!
— Jack O'Toole (@jotoolesyd) February 22, 2017 [8]
Turnbull rebukes the United Nations for the illegal settlements vote just before meeting Netanyahu. Shames Oz. PM is a Moral Coward #auspol [9]
— grace pettigrew (@broomstick33) February 21, 2017 [10]
There has also been plenty in favour of the prime minister's strong pro-Israel positions:
Thank you @TurnbullMalcolm [11] 4steadfast friendship with #Israel [12] and @Netanyahu [13]. The ONLY successful #middleeast [14] democracy. #auspol [9] #abcnews24 [15]
— Dame Sir Ron (@paddo_ron) February 22, 2017 [16]
Among the opposition Australian Labor Party, who are longtime supporters of Israel, there have been some misgivings. Two former prime ministers, Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd, plus two former foreign ministers have supported granting diplomatic recognition to Palestine. Netanyahu has rebuked them [17]. Rudd has responded strongly [18] on his Facebook page:
I have been a supporter of Israel all my life. And a public campaigner against any form of anti-Semitism. But to support the state of Israel does not mandate automatic support for each and every policy of Mr. Netanyahu.
Rudd also raised an old grievance [19] from 2010 when he was prime minister — Palestinian Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, who was believed to have been killed by Israeli Mossad [20] intelligence agents:
Will he use this visit to Australia to apologise to the Australian people for his government using forged Australian passports to facilitate an Israeli assassination of a member of Hamas in Dubai?
The ex-prime minister copped plenty of criticism in return:
@MrKRudd [21] is acting as a Palestinian mouthpiece in the hope of getting a @UN [22] job#Israel [12] #Auspol [23] @netanyahu [13] @TurnbullMalcolm [11] @TimesofIsrael [24]
— Peter OatawayⓂ️ (@PetefromHayNSW) February 22, 2017 [25]
As well as lots of social media support:
@MrKRudd [21] Thank you for your public stand against @netanyahu [13].https://t.co/v79lnFAPcQ [26]
— Ian (@Saints_Dragons) February 22, 2017 [27]
Some of voices of protest have been Jewish ones:
#Bibi [28] doesn't speak for me – Jewish protesters against #Netanyahu [29] in #Sydney [30] pic.twitter.com/SAXpDI8P2U [31]
— Peter Boyle (@peter_b1953) February 22, 2017 [32]
Meanwhile, it has emerged that there was another bump on the Israeli prime minister's trip. Apparently he had to detour around Indonesia [33] on his way from Singapore:
Gee, wonder why El Al is banned from flying in Indonesia's air space? Could it be a protest against apartheid state? https://t.co/kqf53rlzkh [34]
— Elizabeth Gunn (@ELanguagesGeek) February 22, 2017 [35]
There have also been the predicted protests:
Protest #Netanyahu [29] in Sydney #Australia [36] – Rally last night#FreePalestine [37] #worldnews [38] pic.twitter.com/bCvE6YV0Mu [39]
— Schtang (@Schtang) February 24, 2017 [40]
While others are sharing the celebrations:
More coverage in the AFR on Israeli PM @netanyahu [13]‘s visit to Aus, where @LeiblerMark [41] made opening address https://t.co/uAgfg527HR [42] pic.twitter.com/unGi0cHg1v [43]
— Arnold Bloch Leibler (@ABLLaw) February 23, 2017 [44]