Full text of letter here: https://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/statement-by-former-prime-ministers-of-australia
A much more balanced stance than is offered by Dutton, though I don't understand why antisemitism is worse than any other form of hatred?
Where's the actual statement they all signed? Weird it isn't linked or quoted in-full.
The excerpts are not controvercial, but is that the whole thing?
OP shared the letter in the body text:
https://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/statement-by-former-prime-ministers-of-australia
Thanks!
I'm with Mr Keating. I would not have signed it, either. There are a few problematic statements in it:And there is no more tenaciously evil race hatred than antisemitism.
While technically true that nothing is more evil, antisemitisim is not especially special when it comes to hate. It's all bad.
Our Australian Jewish community, directly affected by the terrible crimes of Hamas, not only has to endure the loss and suffering of their families in Israel, but now sees these events being used by some to spread ancient hatreds which have inflicted so much suffering on the Jewish people for thousands of years.
This one feels off. This paragraph feels like its trying to lump all Jewish people into one big group and say they're all affected by the crisis, and they all have lost relatives in Israel. I'm not comfortable equating Israel and Judaism. It is possible to he Israeli and not Jewish. It is possible to be Jewish and not Israeli. Technically, both Palestine and Israel are the same nation at present.
It isn't that I have problems with the overall statement. I agree that hostages should be freed unconditionally. I agree that Hamas is trying to provoke a larger conflict. I agree that if the IDF goes into Gaza with retribution as their goal, they'll be doing Hamas' work for them. I agree that humanitarian access for civilians needs to be maintained.
I just wouldn't feel right signing it, personally. Some of the contents are being written from a perspective that is less neutral to how I feel on the conflict. And that's bourne out by the headline 'Former PMs express their support for Israel'. I think that this statement should have been made by a joint body representing both Jewish and Palestine people in Australia.
Mr Keating yesterday published a statement saying he would not sign onto the letter "drafted by" The Zionist Federation of Australia.
Anyone got a link to Keating's statement?
Edit: found it
Your link keeps jamming dor me, so i quote this one:
*Today’s Melbourne Herald Sun carries a story that, along with other former Australian Prime Ministers, I will be a signature to a statement drafted by The Zionist Federation of Australia, condemning the attack by Hamas on Israel. This report is without foundation and is untrue.
Mark Leibler contacted me earlier last week proposing the prospective joint statement for my agreement and signature.
I told Leibler in a written message that I would not be agreeing to join other former Prime Ministers in authorising the statement.
That remains my position.
Statement by PJ Keating, 29 October 2023.*
Keating is a lot fuckin' sharper and more savvy than the conniving jackals pictured, can't say I'm surprised
Yes sorry about that, I had the same link as you but accidentally cut off the https:// of the URL which apparently made it go belly up. Thanks for re-upping.
Likewise, I reckon Keating is no slouch, he was bang on with his comments re AUKUS earlier this year, and current Labor are doing themselves a disservice for not heeding his warnings imo.
I'm a bit peeved about the post title.
The article heading is:
Former prime ministers join to condemn Hamas, urge Israel to protect civilian lives
The post title is the first sentence, which gives a very different impression.
As was pointed out by another user, it's preferred when posting news to stick with the original headline
