Baillieu Suffers Judeo-Christian Mugging

How ironic that Israel-loving, BDS-hating Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu should be mugged by Judeo-Christianity:

"At the last known residence of Geoff Shaw, two large, leaping Rottweillers greet you at the gate. His ex-wife Sally, who says she hasn't seen the MP for two years, gestured to the dogs. 'They're for him,' she told The Australian by way of explanation. She says it is a relief he is no longer part of her life. Some time in the future, Victoria's Coalition government may feel the same way following Mr Shaw's announcement he has divorced the Liberals and is starting a new political life... Mr Shaw was elected in the 2010 poll... Not long after, he gained attention for a maiden speech laced with Biblical references. In apparent mockery of the acknowledgement of traditional owners, Mr Shaw began his speech: 'In taking my place in the Legislative Assembly it is appropriate for me to acknowledge the original owner of the land on which we stand - God, the creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the Bible.' He went on to quote from the Book of Proverbs, John Howard and Norman Schwarzkopf, declaring: 'I am glad to be here as part of the new Coalition government that knows the difference between righteousness and self-righteousness.'... A father and fierce pentecostal, Mr Shaw was once a regular visitor to Mr Baillieu's office, where he would decry the evil of abortion and call for new laws to further restrict the practice. Having politely refused to yield on that point... Mr Baillieu will rue the day he opened his door." (Divorced for the second time, Shaw remains mum on support, Chip Le Grand, The Australian, 7/3/13)

Finessing It in the Victorian & NSW Knessets

Is there anything Australian politicians will not do at the urging of an overweening Israel lobby?

Apparently not: Whether it's throwing a birthday bash for Israel in federal parliament,* making moan over BDS protests,** observing a minute's silence in memory of Israeli athletes killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics,*** or observing the usual eternal silence on the subject of Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people, no form of kowtowing is too undignified. And that's just on the federal level!

With the feds in the bag, the lobby has lately turned its attention to state politicians.**** Herewith the latest twists and turns in the Zionist fine tuning of our state political institutions:

Down Victoria way, when faced with a judicial decision not to the liking of Israel lobbyists, Premier Ted Baillieu will make subverting it, through a legislative fiddle, top priority. A judicial confirmation of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly? Now don't you worry about that. We can fix it:

"The Victorian government will investigate whether tougher legislation is needed to prevent political protests closing down businesses, after a magistrate found in favour of anti-Israel demonstrators targeting the Max Brenner chocolate shop chain. Premier Ted Baillieu yesterday led a condemnation of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign, as the activists plan to celebrate their court victory with another protest outside the Melbourne shop on Friday. 'The BDS group in my opinion is better titled as bigoted, dangerous and shameful,' Mr Baillieu said. 'They have sought to close down businesses just because they are associated with the state of Israel.' 

"Magistrate Simon Garnett dismissed trespass charges against 16 BDS protesters on Monday, finding they had a lawful right to be in the public space outside the store, and their demonstration in July last year was also lawful and did not present a threat to public order. Mr Garnett refused to dismiss charges of assaulting, hindering and resisting police against 5 of the protesters, with guilty verdicts entered against some yesterday.

"Mr Baillieu said he had asked Attorney-General Robert Clark to work with police to determine what action needed to be taken, refusing to rule out legislative changes to prevent a repeat of Mr Garnett's decision on the trespass charges. 'I remain very concerned when there's any protest that seeks to close down a business,' Mr Baillieu said." (Baillieu seeks to toughen protest laws, Pia Akerman & John Ferguson, The Australian, 25/7/12)

Meanwhile, north of the border in NSW, while you weren't looking (but then this sort of stuff never seems to find its way into the ms media, so don't be too hard on yourselves):

"The President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Yair Miller has been appointed to the state's Parole Authority. State Labor MP, Mr Walt Secord has congratulated Miller on his appointment as a Community Member of the State Parole Authority... Mr Secord, who is deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel said: 'This is an important appointment and an outstanding one. It carries a high level of responsibility. It requires the authority members to balance the need to protect the community with the need to rehabilitate offenders. It requires the wisdom of Solomon, and Yair Miller is well-suited for this position.'" (Yair Miller appointed to Parole Authority, jwire.com, 24/7/12)

Yair Miller, you might remember, was one of the two hugely entertained spectators who sat in the gallery of the NSW Legislative Council and watched as that body whipped itself into a lather over BDS in September last year (See my Witches Brew series 1-9, 17/9/11 - 23/11/11). And by golly we're lucky to get him I can tell you. After all, he's a very busy man. For example, he's not long back from the first Global Israel Diaspora Summit held by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem where "150 young Jewish leaders from around the world" discussed "the most pressing issues facing Israel today, including" - you guessed it! - BDS. (See Miller heads to Israel, jwire.com, 9/7/12)

[*See my March 2008 series The Israeli Occupation of Federal Parliament 1-5; **See my 15/9/11 post Wielding Zionism's Big Stick in the Senate; ***See my 2/7/12 post Massacre Inc; ****See my Witches Brew series 1-9 (17/9/11-23/11/11)]

Australian Activism Goes on Trial

"Our response to BDS forms part of a coordinated national strategy... endorsed by counterparts abroad and Israel's Foreign Ministry." Vic Alhadeff, CEO NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, BDS explained, The Australian Jewish News, 29/7/11*

News of the arrest and coming trial of  19 Australian BDS activists has been predictably largely absent from the slumbering/self-censoring/censored entity known as the Australian corporate media. Here's the latest (25/4) information about this concerted, unprecedented and ominous assault against peaceful and legitimate dissent from the studentsforpalestine.org website, Palestine solidarity on trial:

"On 1 May 19 Melbourne activists will be put on trial for their political activity. In a precedent-setting case, these pro-Palestine activists will be fighting a variety of charges designed to criminalise dissent in Baillieu's Victoria and intimidate supporters of Palestine in Australia.

"On 1 July 2011, Victoria Police attacked a peaceful demonstration in Melbourne's CBD. In one of the largest political arrests in a decade, 19 activists were detained during a Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) action against the Max Brenner store. The chocolateria is owned by Israeli conglomerate the Strauss Group, a company that provides 'care rations' for the Israeli military, including the Golani and Givati brigades. These were 2 of the key Israeli military brigades involved in Israel's brutal assault on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009 that killed more than 1300 Palestinians. In more recent times, the Golani brigade has been noted for its brutal enforcement of Israeli colonisation of Palestinian Hebron in the West Bank.

"After a series of peaceful demonstrations against Max Brenner, the 1 July action was kettled by police before activists were individually targeted in an unprovoked attack by the riot squad. The police used pressure point tactics on some of the demonstrators; others reported bruising and rough treatment. One woman had her shoulder dislocated.

"Damian Ridgwell, one of the arrested protesters told Electronic Intifada about his experience: I was dragged behind police lines. Once they grabbed me and started dragging me, I went limp and dropped to the ground... As I was being carried through the corridors of the loading dock, I lost consciousness because one of the police had me in a choke hold. I am not sure how long I was out, probably a few minutes. I woke up on the loading dock floor and heard the police saying I was 'out'.

"The majority of those arrested were charged with trespass in a public place (yes, that is apparently a crime) and besetting (an archaic law that means 'to surround a building'); a small number were also charged with behaving in a 'riotous manner'.

"After attending another protest, 4 of these 19 protesters were again arrested (for breaking their bail conditions) in dawn raids on their homes. These anti-democratic conditions stipulated that activists may not return within 50 metres of Max Brenner stores in the Melbourne CBD. Three were released from jail on a bail of $2,000 each. One of the more prominent campaigners, Vashti Kenway, was made to pay a $10,000 bail or face prison. All up the activists are facing fines of around $30,000.

***

"The fines, and the aggressive manner of the Victorian government's pursuit of the activists, reveal a further series of intersecting agendas.

"The first is the hostility of the Australian establishment towards those who support Palestine. To get anywhere in mainstream Australian politics requires a display of unwavering support for Israel. It is bipartisan policy to back the apartheid state. Because Israel is a key link in the US chain of command across the Middle East the Australian ruling class is a champion of the Israeli state. It is significant that, with the exception of a few individuals, the overwhelming consensus in parliament is to offer a hand of friendship to Israel. This commitment is what accounts for the hysteria in the establishment press (particularly The Australian) after Marrickville Council attempted to boycott particular Israel-owned goods and services last year. The liberal press is hardly any better with Melbourne's Age recently jumping on the bandwagon with a slanderous piece attacking not only the German poet Gunter Grass for his mild critique of Israel's brutality - but also the Max Brenner protesters for their supposed 'hostility to Jews'. No mention of Israel's war crimes, or of the thousands of Jewish critics across the world who back Palestinian demands for freedom and justice.

"The case against the Max Brenner 19 also highlights the behind the scenes collusion between the Victorian government, the police, the shopping centre management (of QV and Melbourne Central) and the Australian Zionist establishment. Vic Alhadeff, CEO of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, outlined their anti-BDS strategy, stating that it includes 'but is not limited to, engagement with civil society and politicians, patronage of boycotted outlets, cooperation with police, shop owners and centre management and exposure of the motives behind the BDS movement'. The strategy should be one which seeks to 'speak softly' but to also carry 'a suggestion of a big stick'.

"Furthermore, during a bail variation hearing at the Victorian Magistrate's Court on 27 July 2011, Victoria Police confirmed that the decision to arrest the protesters had been made before the demonstration. This decision was made after meeting with Zionist organisations, the Victorian government, shopping centre managements and the management of Max Brenner.

"This kind of collusion reflects increasing attempts to criminalise BDS and pro-Palestine solidarity activism internationally. Currently in the US, France and Greece, hundreds of pro-Palestine activists are facing criminal charges for non-violently standing up for Palestinian human rights.

"The response to these demonstrations also reflects a broader social phenomenon: the growing militarisation of the police force. New highly-trained units have been established, such as the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Critical Incident Response Team. These forces are trained in increasingly hostile forms of crowd control such as kettling. Such tactics have been utilised against other protests such as Occupy Melbourne. There are squads whose sole purpose is to 'monitor' and 'infiltrate' activist groups. One senior sergeant's court testimony suggested that police infiltrators had been sent to pro-Palestine solidarity meetings in order to monitor the activity of BDS activists.

"These intersecting interests have found targets in the Max Brenner 19 and will be on display during the 3-week trial."

For a backgrounder on the issues and players in this matter, please read my posts:

How Sweet It Is (12/7/09), on Max Brenner
BDS Update (11/7/11), on last year's arrests
Criminalising BDS (9/8/11), on Zionist lawfare against BDS
We Need to Talk About Ted (10/8/11), on the company Victorian Premier, Ted Baillieu, keeps
Wielding Zionism's Big Stick in the Senate (15/9/11), on the Zionist lobby's strategy to counter BDS
Ted Bailleu's Mr Unforgettable (4/12/11), on Ted's chief of staff, Michael Kapel

[*This disclosure of endorsement by counterparts abroad and Israel's foreign ministry is quoted in full in my post Wielding Zionism's Big Stick in the Senate. Please tell me it doesn't come under the heading of  'acts of foreign interference', one of the security threats ASIO is supposed to be protecting Australians from. In the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979, the term 'acts of foreign interference' is defined as "activities relating to Australia that are carried on by or on behalf of, are directed or subsidised by or are undertaken in collaboration with, a foreign power, being activities that : (a) are clandestine or deceptive and: (i) are carried on for intelligence purposes; (ii) are carried on for the purpose of affecting political or governmental processes; (iii) are otherwise detrimental to the interests of Australia; or (b) involve a threat to any person."]

Ted Baillieu's Mr Unforgettable

Meet Michael Kapel, the man who "runs" Victoria's (rrrabidly anti-BDS) Baillieu government:

"Now chief of staff to Premier Baillieu, Kapel has more than the Premier's ear. There are those who wonder whether this intense 48-year-old economic conservative and social moderate actually runs this government, or comes close to it. Others suggest that the Premier has simply found a perfect ally in Kapel, someone who shares his values and understands his quirks and leadership style. As one colleague put it: 'Michael just gets him'. Kapel prefers being the backroom player - he declined an interview for this story - but he has been embroiled in unusual controversy in the state government's first year, disliked by some, admired by others. No one denies that he is now one of the most influential people in Victoria. Officially, it is Kapel's job to manage the Premier's private office, hire and fire, oversee policy, devise strategy, offer Baillieu advice and watch the Premier's back. In reality, some Liberal MPs argue - none on the record - that the government is too centralised, with all roads leading to Kapel. They blame him for the fact it took months for the government to appoint ministerial staff - he was on the selection committee and vetted every appointment." (The man behind the man in charge, Farrah Tomazin & David Rood, The Age, 27/11/11)

But there's more. Much more:

"Few people in the Liberal Party say they really know Kapel; fewer claim to understand him. He's the son of French Holocaust survivors who grew up in a left-leaning home, which imbued in him a fierce sense of social justice and racial tolerance. A neo-conservative on foreign policy who in the 1990s edited the Australia/Israel Review*, he campaigned against the emergence of the far right in national politics. He's a man who is loyal to those he trusts, and receives loyalty in return. He's a staffer so close to the Premier that last year Baillieu serenaded the guests at Kapel's wedding with a version of Nat King Cole's Unforgettable... His work as editor of the Review in the 1990s was a defining period. The magazine - which covers Israeli and Jewish affairs - broke major stories: the inner workings of the American anti-semitic LaRouche organisation; suspected Nazi war criminals living in Australia; exposes about Holocaust denier David Irving; and the rise of Pauline Hanson's One Nation party." (ibid)

[*The magazine of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC).]

For those interested in joining dots, please read my posts Criminalising BDS (9/8/11), and We Need to Talk About Ted (10/8/11). Just click on the Ted Baillieu label below.

We Need to Talk About Ted

What is it with Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and BDS?

What do we really know about this guy?

We know that he believes that until the creation of Melbourne's parliamentary bearpit in 1851, Victoria was engulfed in darkness, and we know that he's been successfully rambammed:

"The Chanukah Menorah was lit in the Victorian Parliament House by the Shliach of Chabad of Melbourne CBD, in attendance were the Deputy Premier of Victoria Rob Hull and leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu, as well as other ministers and members of Parliament and leaders of the Melbourne Jewish community... [T]he head Shliach of the Chabad of Melbourne CBD, Rabbi Chaim Herzog explained that this festival teaches us of the need to ensure that the light overshadows the darkness especially when the deeds of the terrorists may their memory be erased make the darkness so plain to see... The leader of the Opposition Ted Baillieu was then invited to speak, he told the gathering that in relation to Parliament House, this house demonstrates that freedom and democracy arrived here 160 years ago, which like Chanukah demonstrates the victory of light over darkness, therefore it's appropriate that it be celebrated in this building. Mr Baillieu spoke of his trip to Israel, where he visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Centre, in which the darkness and suffering which the Jews endured was so obviously noted, therefore the festival of Chanukah will bring light on the nations to ensure no repetition of such events could occur." (Chanukah at Parliament House, chabad.org.au, undated)

Speaking of Chanukah, had Ted been around for the following Chabad event he would surely have been inspired by this wonderful tale of a bravely flickering Jewish light in a sea of Arab darkness:

"Chabad of Melbourne CBD was the venue of 'A Lunchtime Encounter with the Rebbe's Shliach in Hevron'. When Rabbi Chaim Herzog... introduced Rabbi Danny Cohen the Rebbe's Shliach in Chevron, he said we may both be Shluchim of the Rebbe, but my shliches is the easier one at least I am not surrounded by hundreds of thousands of hostile Arabs. Rabbi Cohen who lives in downtown Hevron with his wife and 6 children came to Melbourne to share the thrills and chills of living on the front lines of Jewish history - past, present and future. Chevron: The Biblical city of the founders of the Jewish nation is currently the home to hundreds of Jewish residents, a thousand Jewish soldiers and hundreds of thousands of hostile Arabs. A large crowd came to show their support of what Rabbi Cohen is doing there, he encourages the soldiers to have faith, tour groups are invited for Shabbosim, young students are enlightened as to where the beginnings and endings of their forefathers took place. The lecture was followed by Lunch and Mincha."

What a shame he missed it, but all is not lost! Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, for a real inspiration fix Ted need only access chabadhebron.com where he can read for himself all about those thrills & chills. If I may digress, my fav is the Youtube video with the following caption: "As worldwide media strains to portray Jewish soldiers as powerful brutes, a group of soldiers in Hevron boogied their way down an Arab street in full combat gear. See for yourself how the soldiers change the screech from the local mosque to a sweet melody of rhythm and outright fun!" (Combat gear coreography [sic] rocks the street!, 8/7/10)

We know that Ted should choose his friends more carefully:

"The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) has extended 'sincere congratulations' to Victorian Liberal Party leader Ted Baillieu on his 'stunning election victory and on becoming the 46th Premier of Victoria'. Mark Leibler, AIJAC's National Chairman, also expressed appreciation for Mr Baillieu's 'long-standing support of Israel and genuine understanding of the interests and needs of the Australian Jewish community'. 'We have no doubt that as Premier, you will continue to be a true friend to both the Jewish people and the Jewish state', he added." (AIJAC congratulates Ted Baillieu on his election as Premier of Victoria, aijac.org.au, 30/11/10)

We know that although Ted's election victory was like unto the victory of the Maccabees, Melbourne's Greek community was thankfully not put to the sword:

"The seventh flame of the Chanukah Menorah was kindled at an event in the Victorian State Parliament... Premier Ted Baillieu addressed the crowd regarding the significance of delivering his first speech at a community function, since his election as Premier, being during Chanukah for 3 special reasons. The Premier first acknowledged that Chanukah marked a personal victory for himself, as election results revealing his appointment to Premier were released on Chanukah. He later expounded on this comparison, by stating that Chanukah celebrates not just an ordinary victory, but the defeat of the masses by minority groups, even in the face of tremendous adversity. The Premier thus paralleled his emerging from his position as head of a minority party to head of the Governing party, to the miraculous win of the Maccabees over the multitudes of Greek soldiers. He also emphasised that Chanukah is celebrated as a festival of victory for the Jewish nation, marking an end to religious oppression." (Chanukah celebration Victorian State parliament, chabad.org.au, undated)

We know that Ted is more than happy to see tax-free Australian dollars flow into Israeli coffers:

"'Anything is possible', was the message from The Hon Ted Baillieu MLA, Premier of Victoria, who was the guest speaker at the United Israel Appeal Community Evening held on Tuesday 15th March at Lincoln of Toorak. In stating that 'the Jewish Community is vital to the whole world', Mr Baillieu particularly noted the solidarity in our community which works so well together as we are [a] strong, inspiring and innovative unit... His sentiments highlighted the importance of the State of Israel in that Israel 'makes it possible' for their own but also for the others and UIA 'makes it possible' as it grows for the future of Israel." (2011 community evening, uiavac.org, 17/3/11)

While Ted may have missed hearing all about the thrills & chills in liberated Hebron, how lucky was he not to have missed these tales of Israeli daring-do in the evil kingdom of Hamastan:

"Second speaker for the evening was Australian-born IDF officer Captain Benjamin Rutland, Head of the NATO Desk, IDF Strategic Division. Rutland discussed his experience as a spokesperson for the IDF, particularly during the Gaza War and shared personal stories of Olim that he has been fortunate enough to have served with, many of whom would not have been able to if it wasn't for the assistance provided by the Jewish Agency and UIA." (ibid)

We know he's a party animal:

"<strong>Baillieu addressed a large gathering at Melbourne's Windsor Hotel last Wednesday as part of Israel's 63rd Independence Day celebrations. The habitual swimmer also made a 'teetotaller's toast' to the Jewish state... Israeli Ambassador Yuval Rotem commended Victoria for its support of Israel... The crowd was also addressed by Jewish Community Council of Victoria president John Searle and Zionist Council of Victoria president Sam Tatarka, whose organisation hosted the event." (Teetotaller toast to Israel, The Australian Jewish News, 10/6/11)

Finally, we know Ted'd be out of his depth in a puddle.

Criminalising BDS

The Zionist-orchestrated assault on our right to protest, aimed at the growing BDS campaign against Israel, is gathering pace.

In NSW, it began with Liberal Premier Barry O'Farrell threatening Marrickville Council over its pro-BDS stance (See my 16/4/11 post When the Order Comes) and progressed further with Labor MLC Walt Secord calling on the O'Farrell government to "provide assurances for the protection of businesses with Israeli links" (See my 27/6/11 post An Israeli-Occupied Mind).

Now the Victorian Liberal government of Ted Baillieu is getting in on the act:

"The Baillieu government's pursuit of protesters who targeted a chocolate shop with alleged [!] links to the Israeli military is unprecedented but could have the desired effect of clamping down on future anti-Israel boycotts, a competition law expert says. Consumer Affairs minister Michael O'Brien has written to the head of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), Rod Sims, and asked him to investigate whether a group that protested outside Max Brenner's chocolate shop in QV last month has broken federal law by engaging in secondary boycotts. 'To target businesses because they're owned by Israelis or because they do business with Israel is entirely unacceptable and in our view sets a very, very ugly precedent', Mr O'Brien said. The ACCC will investigate whether the protesters contravened section 45D of the Competition & Consumer Act, which prohibits a group from gathering with the intention of stopping a third person or company from doing business. Until now, it has only been used to target trade union activity, but Melbourne University competition law professor Dr Caron Beaton-Wells said protesters might have a case to answer if protesters 'had the purpose or their actions had the effect of causing substantial loss and damage to the shop's owner's business'." (ACCC probes anti-Israel boycotts, Adam Carey, The Age, 9/8/11)

"Mr O'Brien singled out the Maritime Union of Australia, Geelong Trades Hall Council, the Green Left Weekly magazine, Australians for Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign... Mr O'Brien told The Australian it was unacceptable to single out any businesses but that it was especially concerning given the 20th-century history behind attacks on Jewish businesses... Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd recently met with Victorian federal Labor MP Michael Danby at the same Max Brenner store as the BDS protest. 'I don't think in 21st-century Australia there is a place for the attempted boycott of a Jewish business', Mr Rudd said at the time. 'I thought we had learned that from history'." (Israeli boycotts: ACC called in, John Ferguson, The Australian, 8/8/11)

You will note here, if you haven't elsewhere, the outrageous innuendo of Zionist lickspittles such as O'Brien and Rudd, whereby Israeli companies and their outlets in Australian cities suddenly become Jewish shops in 30s Germany, and those peacefully advocating their boycott in response to Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people become the equivalent of the anti-Semitic Nazi stormtroopers who enforced their closure.

As with the Canadian push to criminalise criticism of Israel (See my 24/7/11 post Criminalising Criticism of Israel), we are witnessing here a deliberate and brazen campaign by Zionist lobbyists and their useful fools in state and federal governments to erode our basic human rights to freedom of assembly and speech in the service of an apartheid state which has denied and trashed Palestinian human rights for over six decades.

They shall not pass!