Ali Kazak

The sudden death of a passionate Palestinian advocate and former Canberra diplomat has left Australian Palestinians and our supporters reeling. Ali Kazak died on Saturday as he travelled to his beloved Palestine in the most horrific of times for his people. Ali came to Australia in 1970, his sole objective being to create awareness about Israel’s colonisation of Palestine in an environment already flooded with hubristic Zionist propaganda. As a Palestinian refugee since Israel’s creation in 1948, and a member of Fateh (the Palestine National Liberation Movement), Ali’s experience and knowledge were formidable. He poured his energies into founding, publishing and co-editing the newspaper “Free Palestine” and wrote numerous books such as “The Jerusalem Question” and “Australia and the Arabs” to diligently explain the legal and moral standing of Palestinians to an already biased Australian public. In 1981, he was appointed the PLO’s representative to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region. In that position, he established good relations with influential Australian Labor politicians like former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and former NSW Premier Bob Carr and became a familiar spokesperson in the Australian media. He was incredibly influential for the Palestinian cause and showed enormous courage in speaking truth to power. His tenacious efforts saw the establishment of the Palestine Information Office which was subsequently recognised as the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1989. A few years later, the Australian Government recognised the General Palestinian Delegation, and as Ambassador, Ali encouraged the creation of Parliamentary Friends of Palestine groups both federally and in the states of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. He even managed to get a Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group established in New Zealand. Eventually he retired from his position as ambassador, but he never stopped his advocacy for Palestine, constantly churning out articles and letters at a furious pace, always a firm believer in the one state solution – one democratic state for all citizens living in peaceful co-existence with equal rights. With so much death and barbarity happening now in Gaza, we will miss Ali’s voice in Australia. His unshakeable belief that justice for Palestine would ultimately prevail, gave many supporters of Palestine hope, despite the bleak political landscape and tragic conditions facing the Palestinians. Ali certainly was a harbinger of Palestinian recognition in Australia and the thousands of Australians coming out week after week in support of Palestine is a resounding tribute to his indefatigable advocacy for more than 50 years. Our deepest condolences go to his loyal and supportive wife and family, as they come to terms with the shock of Ali’s unexpected passing. We too mourn that Palestine has lost yet another voice in the decades-long struggle for peace, freedom and justice. Sonja Karkar Women for Palestine Australians for Palestine   APAN honours Ali’s steadfast and unwavering commitment to the fight for Palestinian liberation.   Sadly like so many other Nakba survivors, Ali never realised his inalienable right to return to Palestine.  With Ali’s legacy in mind APAN will continue that work until Palestine is free from the River to the Sea. In solidarity The APAN team