Author: mark

31/10/2023 An appeal for Peace “They shall not learn war any more” (Isaiah 2.4)  Isaiah’s vision of peace was spoken to a nation in confusion and social discord, divided and fearful. It was a vision of a peace that, though not yet realised, was always to be sought in faith through living in obedient righteousness… Continue reading Statement from the House of Bishops on the war in Gaza

The Australian / AFP | Ella Ide | 24.11.23 The Pope has said the conflict in Gaza has gone beyond war and become terrorism after meeting Israeli and Palestinian dele­gations visiting the Vatican. Francis on Wednesday met separately with Israeli relatives of Hamas hostages and Palestinians with family in Gaza, while warning that the ongoing… Continue reading Pontiff Accuses Both Sides of Terrorism

The Age | Emma Koehn & Annie Holland | 24.11.23 Hundreds of school students across Melbourne ignored pleas from politicians to stay in school and instead took to the city streets rallying to support Palestine. About 500 young people, aged from kindergarteners through to year 12 students, gathered on the steps of Flinders Street Station… Continue reading Students rally for Palestine in defiance of school rules

World 2 min read The New Arab Staff 22 November, 2023 The Australian Foreign Minster says her country granted temporary visas to 800 Palestinians and more than 1700 Israelis since the beginning of the war on Gaza ShareFlipboardRedditWhatsAppXFacebook Penny Wong said there was high demand for Australian visas among Palestinians [Getty] Australia says it has… Continue reading Australia grants temporary visas to 800 Palestinians and over 1,700 Israelis

Surge in Israeli Killings, Administrative Detention and Settler Violence Omar Shakir Israel and Palestine Director, Middle East and North Africa Division @OmarSShakir@OmarSShakir While global attention is focused on Israel and Gaza, Israeli authorities are tightening their repression in the West Bank and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians are surging. That repression was already at a peak before the… Continue reading While a Fire Rages in Gaza, the West Bank Smolders

(The Age, 23/11/2023) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/palestinian-women-and-youths-to-be-swapped-for-israeli-hostages-20231123-p5em5t.html ) Gaza/Jerusalem: Dozens of Palestinian women and teenagers held prisoner by Israel for periods of a few months to several years will gain their freedom under the deal for the release of 50 Israeli hostages held in Gaza by the Islamist group Hamas agreed to on Wednesday (AEDT). Jubilant reunions are… Continue reading Palestinian women and youths to be swapped for Israeli hostages

(The Age, 22/11/2023) ( https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/israel-hamas-close-to-reaching-a-cease-fire-agreement-20231122-p5elt5.html ) London: Israel and Hamas are inching closer to a deal where the terrorist organisation would swap dozens of hostages for Palestinian prisoners and a partial pause in fighting, in what would be the first diplomatic breakthrough since the war began on October 7. US officials who have been brokering… Continue reading Israel and Hamas ‘close to reaching a ceasefire agreement’

(The Australian, 22/11/2023) ( https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/jakarta-outrage-over-ravaged-hospital/news-story/f7e6c2475ebf41b2cdf95f84aa7b32a8 ) Jakarta has reacted with uncharacteristic fury to the deadly ­Israeli attack on the Indonesian-funded hospital on Monday, calling it a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law”. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Indonesia “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the attack that the Indonesian charity behind it says killed at… Continue reading Jakarta outrage over ‘ravaged’ hospital

I covered the birth of Jewish fascism in Israel. I reported on the extremist Meir Kahane, who was barred from running for office and whose Kach Party was outlawed in 1994 and declared a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. I attended political rallies held by Benjamin Netanyahu, who received lavish funding from… Continue reading Israel’s Final Solution for the Palestinians. Chris Hedges When Jewish extremists, fanatic Zionists, religious zealots, ultranationalists and crypto-fascists in the apartheid state of Israel say they want to wipe Gaza off the face of the earth, believe them.By Chris HedgesGlobal Research, November 09, 2023ScheerPost 5 November 2023Region: Middle East & North AfricaTheme: History, Intelligence, Law and JusticeIn-depth Report: PALESTINE

Canberra Times / AAP | 21.11.2023 A group of 28 prematurely born babies relocated from Gaza’s biggest hospital have been taken into Egypt for urgent treatment while Palestinian authorities and the World Health Organisation say 12 people have been killed at another Gaza hospital encircled by Israeli tanks. The newborns had been in north Gaza’s… Continue reading Twelve dead at hospital encircled by Israeli tanks: WHO