Labor Inches Towards a Truncated Palestine

Here is NSW state Labor's new Palestine resolution as moved by Bob Carr at the just-concluded NSW Labor annual conference:

1 Notes previous resolutions on Israel/Palestine carried at the 2015 ALP National Conference & the 2016 NSW Labor Annual Conference; and
2 Supports the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist within secure and recognised borders; and
3 Urges the next Labor Government to recognise Palestine.

And here is Troy Bramston's coverage of the resolution's passing in The Australian:

"'As the oldest, the greatest, the biggest state branch we can't afford to be stranded in history,' Mr Carr said. 'It is time now for another historic shift in Labor Party foreign policy. We must balance our just recognition of Israel with the equally just recognition of Palestine.' Currently, 137 nations recognise Palestine as a state - but not the United States, Australia or New Zealand. NSW Labor's previous position was more conciliatory, stating that it would consult with other like-minded nations to work toward the recognition of Palestine if no progress toward a two-state solution was made with Israel. But now Labor NSW joins sister branches in the ACT, Tasmania and Queensland, the South Australian government and former leaders Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd in backing Palestinian statehood. 'You did the just and right thing by a crushed and marginalised people who aspire, within the rules, to something Israel has enjoyed since 1948 - and that is a land of their own,' Mr Carr said ahead of the vote. Only a single voice, from the hundreds of delegates packed into Sydney's Town Hall, could be heard voting against the motion.

"The NSW Labor Israeli Action Committee vowed to continue to oppose Mr Carr's 'obsessive campaign' and claimed it has successfully forced him to recognise Israel's right to exist. 'It was important to restore the balance and to fight for a two-state solution and Israel's right to exist within safe and secure borders,' LIAC patron Walt Secord said in a statement provided to AAP following the vote." (NSW Labor resolves to recognise Palestine, 30/7/17)

All Service & Devotion, & No Reward

As we know, it's damn hard work representing the people of Israel NSW and running NSW to perdition perfection. Here's just a sample of that hard work, with the mere pittance these guys are being paid for it in brackets. Surely such service and devotion deserve more than this:

"The NSW Parliament's Legislative Council has debated a condolence motion in honour of the late Israeli president and prime minister Shimon Peres. The motion was moved by Christian Democrats MLC Paul Green [$157,112] and was supported by four parliamentarians. They were Multiculturalism Minister John Ajaka [$307,940], Deputy opposition leader in the NSW Legislative Council and NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel deputy chair Walt Secord [$196,390] and Liberal MLCs Dr Peter Phelps [$157,112] and Scott Farlow [$157,112]." (NSW State Parliament debates condolence motion for Shimon Peres, jwire.com.au, 14/10/16)

What Makes Walt Secord Tick

Now we know what makes weird* Walt Secord tick:

" [NSW] Labor's health spokesman Walt Secord, born in Canada with a Mohawk-Ojibway father, told the upper house of their frustration and tears. 'For reasons that we do not understand, our heritage, our blood or narrative is vital to us. What else could explain the boom in genealogy and the success of programs like Who Do You Think You Are?" (Heartfelt plea that helped change sperm donor ID plans, Kirsty Needham, The Sun-Herald, 27/3/16)

It's not that hard, Walt, sheer boredom.

"I for one have traced my father's rare family origin and I know the responsibility of belonging to a race of only 1800 people in the world...'  "

So you discharge that responsibility by migrating to Australia and advocating for the apartheid state? Right...

"'Our genes are the reason for our existence'."

Blood... race...

Hang on. Now where have we heard that before?

[*Merely click on the label below.]

My Solution to NSW Labor's Rambamming Problem

Check out this 28/4 press release from state opposition leader Luke Foley:

NEW TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FOR LABOR MPS

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley announced today that any Labor MPs receiving assisted travel to Israel would be expected to spend an equivalent time in the West Bank and/or Gaza to hear the case of the Palestinians.

Labor believes in a two-state solution. A two-state solution must be built on understanding the perspectives of two people.

'This arrangement will mean that MPs understand the Palestinian as well as the Israeli case,' Mr Foley said.

'In that spirit I would expect all members of the parliamentary party who are assisted to travel to Israel would spend an equivalent time talking to Palestinians on the West Bank and/or the Gaza Strip.

'The MPs need to see the conditions under which Palestinians live.'

Mr Foley urged the Premier to match the commitment when it comes to travel to the Middle East by members of his Party.

At last, a recognition that rambamming is a problem. But is Foley's solution really the way to go?

My problem with his announcement is that it's based on the false premise that the land-grabbing, apartheid state of Israel actually has a legitimate case to offer.

My humble suggestion?

That Labor MPS belonging to the Parliamentary Friends of Israel group be sentenced to a stint with the International Solidarity Movement in the West Bank, paid for out of their own pockets, dodging Israeli bullets, tear gas canisters, sound bombs and skunk spray.*

Alternatively, they could be sentenced to clear away the rubble of shattered Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip.

(BTW, Labor MLC Walt Secord should be sentenced to both.)

Moreover, before going, Labor MPs should be required to read David Hirst's The Gun & the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Middle East AND Saree Makdisi's Palestine Inside Out, followed by a written exam based on the content of those books.

(It goes without saying that I'd be happy to set and mark said exam, but I should warn that I do not, repeat not, believe in a no-fail policy. Any MPs whose responses are not up to scratch will be required to keep sitting the exam until they get it right.)

[*See my 7/4/13 post Mephitic Odours at Monash University.]

So Worried About Eddie's Reputation

If Eddie Obeid isn't more careful with whom he associates, I swear it could seriously damage his reputation:

"'Immediately after he retired, was he a person of influence? Absolutely,' one senior Labor figure says. 'And that extended to the ninth floor [NSW Labor's head office in Sussex Street].' The clearest evidence of this was the deal Obeid cut with party officials when they were trying to convince him to leave Parliament. Obeid insisted that if he agreed to go, he should be replaced by Walt Secord - the former chief of staff to Kenneally and treasurer Eric Roozendaal." (The Godfather, Ane Davies & Sean Nicholls, The Sydney Morning Herald, 3/8/13)

"Labor's newest frontbencher Ron Hoenig has been forced to reveal he accepted a ticket to the NRL semi-finals from Eddie Obeid last September - a fortnight after being elected to parliament. The revelation is an embarrassment for the Opposition Leader John Robertson. He promised new standards for pecuniary interest register declarations by his MPs in the wake of the ICAC scandal and the first act of declaration has seen Mr Hoenig admit receiving a gift from Mr Obeid, who is facing accusations he was part of rigging a mine licence to benefit his family. Mr Hoenig, the opposition's ports and energy spokesman, confirmed yesterday he had been invited by Mr Obeid to the preliminary NRL final South Sydney played last year. 'I was invited by Eddie Obeid whether I'd like to accompany the Israeli ambassador to a South Sydney football game which I did,' Mr Hoenig said... 'I think he wanted a Jewish Labor party person to accompany the Israeli ambassador.'... Mr Hoenig's Obeid connection comes a day after The Sunday Telegraph revealed his son Ben was caught posting abuse and racist tirades on his Facebook page." (Eddie Obeid gave footy tickets as gift to new Labor MP Ron Hoenig, Andrew Clennell, The Daily Telegraph, 4/3/13)

A Conga Line of BDS Bashers

Whenever Murdoch's Australian takes its hatchet to one or other manifestation of Australia's pro-Palestinian BDS campaign, a virtual conga line of Israel lobbyists and Zionist dupes is invariably trotted out to condemn it.

Christian Kerr's BDS targets uni over campus shop in yesterday's paper is a case in point.

But first the scene-setting:

"The University of NSW has been targeted by the anti-Israeli BDS movement over plans to open a Max Brenner chocolate shop on its main Sydney campus. Students for Justice in Palestine has launched a campaign against the campus outlet, expected to open in June, calling on the university to cancel the contract. Spokesman Damian Ridgewell warned of protests. 'There will be an active campaign on campus to encourage students and staff to boycott the shop', he told The Australian. BDS activists claim the Max Brenner chain is owned by the Strauss Group of food and confectionary manufacturers, which produces some rations for the Israeli Defence Forces, and accuses it of complicity in 'war crimes'. The company insists that it is wholly Australian owned and operated."

Then, one by one, the BDS bashers take the floor. There's the clueless spokesperson from admin:

"A UNSW spokeswoman said the university 'deplores any form of racism and discrimination' but added: 'Free expression of views and open debate are central to the life of a university'. The spokeswoman said staff and students had been surveyed over new stores on campus. 'Max Brenner was the equal second most popular choice'."

Oh, so that's an informed endorsement, is it? According to a 2012 Lowy Institute poll, only 39% of the 18 to 29 year olds surveyed expressed support for Australian democracy, while 23% didn't really care what kind of political system we had. All I can say is thank God we've got groups like Students for Justice in Palestine to promote a concern for the content of the student mind, as opposed to what goes into the student belly and the corporate coffers.

There's the rambammed politician 1:

"Tertiary Education Minister Craig Emerson slammed the boycott. 'The Australian government has always been firm and clear in its opposition to Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign', he said. 'Such boycotts against Israel in addition to harming Palestinian people economically, are unhelpful to the Middle East peace process'."

But seriously, what else is he going to say? After all:

"Emerson is an alumni of AIJAC's Rambam program, which sends politicians to Israel to learn the facts on the ground. As acting foreign minister he has condemned terrorist activities against Israel, and as trade minister condemned the NSW Greens' BDS policy, labeling it 'reprehensible'. 'Craig Emerson is somebody we've got to know well', [AIJAC director Colin] Rubenstein said. 'He's also a very quick learner and I think very positive and quite knowledgeable about the world and certainly about the Middle East'." (Australia-Israel relations after the fall of Rudd, The Australian Jewish News, 1/3/12)

There's the lobbyist:

"Executive Council of Australian Jewry head Peter Wertheim said action against Max Brenner had failed. 'Since the boycott campaign against Max Brenner Australia began in 2011, their business has really boomed', he said. 'Their shops are crowded with Australians of all backgrounds, including families with women wearing hijabs."

But he would say that, wouldn't he? In fact, he may have said too much! I mean, is Wertheim not perhaps concerned that the mere mention of hijabs patronising a Max Brenner outlet will scare away the hijab-hating shock troops of the Australian Protectionist Party who love Max so much that, whenever a BDS protest heaves into view, they're there with bells and whistles to protect him?

There's the rambammed politician 2:

"NSW opposition frontbencher Walt Secord urged 'a reverse boycott' of the shop."

LOL! If only you'd seen the memorable photograph of Walt at Jerusalem's 'Wailing Wall' on the front page of the March 22 edition of The Australian Jewish News, you'd swear the guy's been reverse-boycotting chocolate ever since he was knee high to the proverbial grasshopper.

And finally, there's the trainee lobbyist:

"Australian Union of Jewish Students political affairs director Dean Sherr... called BDS 'an ugly attempt to delegitimise an entire nation. The problem with BDS is that it does nothing to offer solutions or initiatives for peace', he said. 'It's about attributing all the blame to Israel and punishing it, and calling into question the Jewish state's very right to exist'."

Political affairs director, eh? How grand! A trawl through Dean's tweets suggest a guy who's more into footie than politics. This, I'm afraid, is about as good as it gets with Dean: "We should let them [asylum seekers] in as long as they promise to buy a Dogs, Roos or Port membership." (22/10/12)

What can I say? Herzl would be turning in his grave.

Best show in town, folks!

PS (19/4/13):  The Conga Line of BDS Bashers grows even longer in today's Australian with yet another rambammed politician, Liberal Senator Brett Mason, "accus[ing] the BDS movement of promoting an anti-Israel agenda rather than supporting the Middle East peace process." (Students were told about Brenner, Christian Kerr) Which sounds a bit like a corporate heavy accusing environmentalists of promoting an anti-development agenda rather than supporting the cloning of extinct species, no? Then we have a medicine man with a UNSW connection, Dr David Adler,  who says, "Boycotting a party is contrary to the mission of the university and in this particular case will not advance the cause of peace one inch." Is this the same David Adler, I wonder, who "recently visited Israel and was deeply inspired by his personal journey of discovery there," so much so, in fact, that he'll be lecturing to guests at a Young Adult Chabad function in May on "How many Miracles can you fit on the head of a Pin?"? (youngadult chabad.org) All about advancing the cause of peace by miles, of course.

Doing the Donkey* in the NSW Knesset 10

On the speech of The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane, Labor Party, in the NSW Legislative Council, arising out of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel (PFoI) "study Mission" 'debate' of March 14:

Although Labor's Shaoquette Moselmane did not acquit himself particularly well in the NSW Legislative Council's 'debate' on BDS in September 2011,* I'm pleased to say that this time around he passed the Palestine test - the litmus for intellectual and moral courage in our time - with flying colours. In fact, I would hazard a guess that Moselmane's speech, though not without its problems, is the most forthright and wide-ranging defence of the Palestinian cause heard in an Australian parliament in recent years.

It certainly provoked the anger of the usual suspects, with The Australian Jewish News of March 22 referring to it as a "stinging diatribe," and quoting Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff (present at the delivery) describing it as "outrageous slurs and baseless comments."**

It is surely indicative of the extraordinary state of affairs that now pertains in Baruch O'Farrell's NSW Knesset that even the Israeli ambassador, Yuval Rotem, saw fit to intervene. Clearly accustomed to seeing Labor politicians dancing as one to Israel's tune, he whined: "It is immensely troubling to see a member of the NSW Labor Party, in an official capacity, using such a contemptible tone and terminology. It was also very disappointing to see that only one member of the NSW Labor Party, Mr Walt Secord, stood up and spoke against these unacceptable, highly defamatory statements."**

Given the impact of Moselmane's speech , therefore, I'm reproducing it in full, with my own comments in square brackets:

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: All people have a right to a homeland - all people, including Jews [A bad start admittedly. Jews are a faith community, not a 'people' and have no right to anyone else's homeland, including that of the Palestinian people.], Kurds, Armenians and Palestinians. All people have a right to exist and receive protections under international law and live in peace and security. Since the 1948 [sic: 1947] United Nations resolution to divide Palestine between Jews and Arabs, the Palestinian people have been left to suffer the trauma and indignity of a people dispossessed. I am not surprised that there is no mention in the motion of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian land, Palestinian suffering and Palestinian rights as a people deprived of their land, persecuted, imprisoned, killed, traumatised and dehumanised. I wonder whether the members on their study mission [ever] considered the Palestinian people; I wonder whether the human rights of the Palestinian people [ever] crossed their minds. I hope it did cross their minds and that they pondered a little the human rights of others now being dispossessed of their land, their dreams, their aspirations and their future as a people. Ever since 1948 the Zionist plan has been to... expand the borders of the Jewish colonial state. Zionist ideology demanded--

The Hon. Walt Secord: Point of order: My point of order is on relevance. The member is not speaking to the motion and, as the Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel I disassociate myself from his remarks. [This is particularly rich coming from a man whose speech, which touched on just about every human rights issue in the Middle East (and beyond - Holocaust, Armenia) bar one, was heard uninterrupted. (See my 19/3/13 post Doing the Donkey* in the NSW Knesset 4 19/3/13.) The AJN had this to say of Secord's interruptions in its March 22 editorial: "When Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane claimed last week in NSW's Upper House that Israel had torture camps in southern Lebanon and that Gaza is the world's largest open-air prison, it would have been easy to sit quietly in the corner. It would have been easy to call a journalist after the session or make a generic statement about how he, and Labor, still had a love of Israel, despite those comments. But Secord did neither. Instead, he stood up in the NSW Parliament and in a moment that put his political career on the line, he objected to the speech being made by a member of his own party. Having described it as an 'anti-Israel rant', according to political insiders, he has suffered a backlash behind closed doors." (A true friend) Put his political career on the line? Have you ever heard such balderdash?]

The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: To the point of order: This is a fairly broad-ranging motion. While the member's speech is not directly relevant to the wording of the motion, it would be unfair if he were not allowed to continue to speak, considering the breadth of the topic that has been debated in relation to this motion.

Deputy-President (The Hon. Paul Green): Order! The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane may resume his speech. He is within the latitude of the general purpose of the motion.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: After the UN allocated 56% of Palestine to a Jewish state, 80% [sic:78%] was seized by force. Christians and Muslims made up two-thirds of the population. Jews, who owned only 6% of the land took 85% [sic:82%] of Palestine's land. The 800,000 [Palestinians] who were initially dispossessed, expelled from their land - now 5 million - [constitute] a diaspora. There was nothing fair or legitimate about the UN's offer. It was carried out over the objections of the majority. But even this corruption of justice was not enough to satisfy [Israel's] craving for other people's land. Arab voices were ignored. Not a single Arab was consulted on the plan. Now 5 million Palestinians are scattered across the globe and those still living in their homeland are living in two non-contiguous territories - Gaza and the West Bank - which make up less than 20% [NB: 22% in 1967] of the territory they originally had in 1967. I believe it is more like 14% of the former Palestine that they now live in. Members will see from this plan [sic: map] the former territory of Palestine and the land the Palestinians now own - just spots of land scattered all over.

The Hon. Walt Secord: Point of Order: The member is using props. The use of props is out of order.

Deputy-President (The Hon. Paul Green): Order! The member would be well aware that the protocol of the House is that members should not use props to support their arguments.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: The Palestinians' right to return to their homeland is a fundamental right of all people. It is a fundamental right that is at the heart of the Palestinian struggle. This must be addressed and resolved fairly. In all of the speeches made in the House today, we have not heard about the Israeli assaults on Arab territories in 1956, 1967, 1982, 2006 and 2009. In the 2009 assault on Gaza, one thousand residents were killed [sic: 1,387], over 300 of them children, and 5,000 were wounded. As was described by a member earlier today, Gaza is the world's largest open-air prison camp, containing 1.5 million people in a very small parcel of land. The Israeli assault continues on Gaza. According to the Al-Mezan Center for Human rights, some 90,000 Gazans were forced to flee their homes. Residents of Gaza City and those to its north had no water or electricity; they were trapped, traumatised and terrorised. Nothing was said in this debate about the rights of those Palestinians who were effectively murdered by this military machine. They did not have hospitals. The Israeli military machine effectively erased government buildings, apartment buildings and mosques. It struck UN schools, the UNRWA compound, ambulances and hospitals. Their actions can be seen as a violation of international humanitarian law. The ICRC accused Israel of breaches of humanitarian conventions for failing to bring assistance to wounded and starving civilians and preventing ambulance access for 4 days. B'Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights and other Israeli human rights groups have described civilians being fired on in doorways by Israeli soldiers, attacks on ambulance crews and aid workers, and schools being used as civilian refuges. Human Rights Watch accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions over densely populated areas of Gaza in violation of international humanitarian law. The UN Human Rights Council has condemned the Israeli offensive for 'massive violations of human rights'. Amnesty International says that Israeli shelling of residential areas is 'prima facie evidence of war crimes'. The organisation has also accused Israeli soldiers of using Palestinians as human shields: 'It's standard practice for Israeli soldiers to go into a house, lock up the family in a room on the ground floor and use the rest of the house as a military base.' Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories and Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University, says that Israel is in breach of the UN Charter, the Geneva Conventions, international law and international humanitarian law. Falk says: 'If there were the political will there could be an ad hoc tribunal established to hear allegations of war crimes. This could be done by the General Assembly acting under Article 22 of the UN Charter which gives them the authority to establish subsidiary bodies.' But they did not do so. A Human Rights Watch investigation found that Israel had repeatedly and indiscriminately fired white phosphorus over crowded areas of Gaza, killing and injuring civilians-

The Hon. Walt Secord: Point of order: My point of order relates to relevance. I remind the honourable member that the motion states: That this House notes that: (a) The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel under the auspices of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies hosted a delegation of NSW Parliamentarians on a study mission to Israel from 6 January 2013 to 10 January 2013-

The Hon. Lynda Voltz: You cannot read the whole motion.

The Hon. Walt Secord: I am just reminding the member of the motion.

The Hon. Lynda Voltz: Get to your point of order.

The Hon. Walt Secord: It was relevance.

The Hon. Lynda Voltz: Relevance has already been raised.

The Hon. Walt Secord: This speech is simply an anti-Israel rant.

The Hon. Lynda Voltz: You are trying to stop democratic debate in the Chamber.

The Hon. Walt Secord: This is simply an anti-Israel rant and he is not speaking to the motion.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: That is rubbish, and you know it.

Deputy-President (The Hon. Paul Green): Order! The Hon. Walt Secord is correct. Members have the motion in front of them, or have access to the motion. While I have been generous in general about speeches, the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane needs to stay within the purview of the motion and not give a lengthy history.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: If ever there were a group in need of international protection from war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing it is the Palestinians, and yet the Palestinians receive little outside help.

The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: They received billions from the UN. [Notice how one little yappie can set off another?]

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: In 1982 Israel invaded Lebanon.

The Hon. Peter Phelps: Billions.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: Deputy-President, I did not interrupt other speakers. I let them make their speeches without interruption. Previous speakers had the opportunity to speak without interruption and I ask that the same courtesy be shown to me. I have only 4 minutes left to speak. I have the right to inject some balance into this debate. I am glad that I am a member of this House and have the opportunity to speak and inject balance and humanity into this debate. I have that right and I have 4 minutes to do so.

The Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox: Point of order: Could the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane retire while I take my point of order?

Deputy-President (The Hon. Paul Green): Order! The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane will retire to his seat while a point of order is taken, as per the protocols of the House.

The Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox: I have listened with tolerance to the member. I take a point of order based on relevance. This is a motion about a study mission to Israel and members have noted the facts in relation to that study mission. The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane did not even go on the study mission. He is having a little rant about personal issues. The motion is about a study mission to Israel, nothing more, nothing less. The House has been more than tolerant in listening to some of the garbage he has been talking about. [Now we've got 3 little yappies!]

The Hon. Trevor Khan: To the point of order. Whilst I agree with the Hon. Matthew Mason-Cox with regard to the words of the motion, speakers have raised a very broad range of matters. It is my argument that having allowed broad discretion in the debate so far and, to be frank, having allowed a scab to be picked, the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane is entitled to have his say. He has only a few minutes left in which to speak.

Deputy-President (The Hon. Paul Green): Order! I ask the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane to address his remarks to the motion. Mr David Shoebridge was given an opportunity to speak on a range of matters and I will extend the same latitude to the Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane.

The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane: As I stated, all people have a right to a peaceful existence and so do the Palestinian people. I want this House to know that and I want that comment recorded. They, as well as the Jewish people have a right to peaceful existence and to a homeland. [There he goes again. Vic Alhadaff, who has a homeland - Australia - has a right to another homeland in Palestine?] We have heard comments about how peaceful and democratic the Israeli government is. I remind the House that in 1982 when Israel invaded Lebanon and then occupied it for 18 years, they imprisoned people. People in southern Lebanon were tortured. I visited the camps and I saw the prisons. I invite members to go to these torture camps that the Israelis set up in southern Lebanon and see for themselves. They occupied Lebanon for 18 years. I resent members here accusing the resistance of being terrorist groups. I salute the resistance. If the resistance in Lebanon had not forced the Israelis out of Lebanon, I would not have been able to go to my grandparents' home in south Lebanon and visit the land I was born in. I salute them for their resistance. It is the right of people to do so. Imagine what the response would have been in 1941 or 1942 if we had condemned resistance against Nazi Germany. In Lebanon the resistance was able to force the Israelis out. In 2006, towards the end of the Israeli war on Lebanon, they dropped 3 million cluster bombs on little south Lebanon. Those bombs are buried in the ground. A child walking there will be blown up or lose a limb. An animal walking there will die. Three million cluster bombs will exist there for hundreds of years and people will continue to suffer. In conclusion-[Time expired.]

Next in the Doing the Donkey* in the NSW Knesset series: Lynda Voltz MLC. Stay tuned.

[*See my 2/3/13 post Doing the Donkey.]

[*See my 7/12/11 post Witches Brew 10; **Secord champions Israel in Parliament.]

Doing the Donkey* in the NSW Knesset 4

On the speech of The Hon. Walt Secord, Labor, in the NSW Legislative Council, arising out of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel (PFoI) "study mission" 'debate' of February 28:

Here's Walt's rationale: "In a job that can be overwhelmed by discussion papers and briefings, I try to keep in mind that seeing things first hand provides the greater insight. That is why I try to see things for myself and that is why I support parliamentary study tours."

Like Fred, he's a serial offender: "This was my second visit to Israel in two years."

So putting 2 & 2 together: the more trips, the more insight, OK? Which should make Walt Secord the most insightful guy in the NSW Parliament, right?

But the insights can wait. First a wee housekeeping matter: "I acknowledge the effort to provide Palestinian and Israeli Arab perspectives, such as the Governor of Bethlehem and the Abu Ghosh Israeli Arab education officials."

That's right - Palestinians, finance, water, shalom-n-salaam. Boooring.

Now, moving (the operative word here) right along to matters of substance:

"Last year, I did a March of the Living-inspired trip, culminating in a trip to Yad Vashem... My 2011-12 study tour started in Armenia so that I could learn more about the first genocide of the 20th century... After Armenia I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland and then flew directly to Israel and visited Yad Vashem. I then travelled to Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iranian border to see a contemporary context of genocide. Halabja was where in March 1988 Saddam Hussein unleashed chemical gas attacks on the Kurds, killing 5,000 people.** As a person who has studied the Shoah, I believe that, as Nobel Prize winner and Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi said: Those who deny Auschwitz would be ready to remake it. So while these visits are often challenging, they are vital to promoting that which must never be forgotten."

Insight: there's no business like Shoah business.

"On my study tour this year, 2012-13, I visited the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Armenia and Georgia... Israel and the Palestinian territories, including Bethlehem and the Aida refugee camp; the ancient ruins of Western Armenia; Turkey, Istanbul, Anzac Cove at Gallipoli; and, finally, Cairo and Giza in Egypt."

Insights:

Re Turkey, Erdogan got cross with Israel over the Gaza flotilla; political Islam is challenging traditional Turkish secularism; and Turkey's got to 'fess up to the Armenian genocide.

Re Egypt, "I fear that it will be very difficult to travel [there] in about a year"; "I fear for its Christian minority"; tourism in Egypt is down; Will Morsi hand over power if he loses the next election?

What can I say? 

But hey, it's not all gloom-n-doom and penetratin' insights. How about his snaps?

"There were personal highlights too, such as taking my parliamentary colleague Luke Foley to his first Shabbat meal" and "gatecrashing the wedding of Yair and Sandra Miller in Jerusalem." There was "seeing... Rick Colless and his wife locate the WW1 grave of his great-uncle at Beersheba Commonwealth War cemetery" and "going out on the Sea of Galilee with Paul Steiner... the son-in-law of Jewish communal leaders and interfaith activists Josie and Ian Lacey."

But enough of such frivolity! Back to core parliamentary business:

"In addition to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies portion of the trip, I added on several days to explore Israel myself. Last year I visited the Gadot Observation Point near the Golan, Masada, Tiberius, Sderot, Gush Etzion, the Dead Sea, Ramallah, Nazareth, Jerusalem, East Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Eilat as well as Jordan."

But there's more!

"This year, as part of my exploration of other faiths, I visited the Baha'i Temple and Gardens in Haifa... [then] I travelled [to] and stayed at Kibbutz Kadarim in Israel's north. To get real first-hand experience, I caught an Egged bus from the roadside at Kibbutz Kadarim to Akko and then Tel Aviv. I sat among Israel Defence Forces soldiers on their way home for Shabbat."

All of which "raises the question of whether this trip has shifted my view on any matters in relation to Israel."

And what profound and deeply original insight is trotted out by way of answering the above question in the negative?

"[C]urrently Israel does not have a partner in [sic] peace."

Worth every penny, I reckon.

Next in the Doing the Donkey in the NSW Knesset series: Robert Borsak MLC. Stay tuned.

[*See my 2/3/13 post Doing the Donkey; ** "Halabja marked something of a turning point in the United States' scandalous support for Saddam Hussein's war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran - including his use of chemical weapons against civilian as well as military targets. Ever since the Iraqi military had started using chemical weapons in 1982 and Iran had started complaining about it to the UN Security Council, the US had blocked any SC action on the matter... As then Secretary of State George Shultz later explained, Washington blocked international pressure on Iraq to stop using chemical weapons because 'you don't want Iran to win the war'." (Halabja & America's support for using chemical weapons against Iran, FL & HM Leverett, goingtotehran.com, 19/3/13)]

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)]

Secord of Armenia

In my post before last, Useful Fools (With Foreign Passports), you'll recall useful Anglo-Israeli fool Matthew finding that his Mossad-returned British passport had magically acquired, among others, a stamp from Azerbaijan, a former Soviet satellite which borders the Caspian Sea to the east and Iran to the south.

Why Azerbaijan? In a word, Iran:

"'This is ground zero for intelligence work', [says Shimon, one of dozens of Israeli Mossad agents who work in Azerbaijan at any given time]. 'Our presence here is quiet, but substantial. We have increased our presence in the past year, and it gets us very close to Iran. This is a wonderfully porous country'." (Where spy wars are waged on Iran, Sheera Frenkel, The Australian, 14/2/12]

A fact the Iranians are understandably not too happy about:

"Azerbaijan has angrily denied an Iranian claim that it has been helping Israeli spies plotting against Iran. Iran says agents of the Israeli secret service Mossad were behind the recent killings of Iranian nuclear scientists. The latest victim was Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, killed by a car bomb in north Tehran on 11 January. Azerbaijan's foreign ministry called Iran's claim 'slander'." (Azerbaijan in row with Iran over 'Israeli spies', bbc.co.uk, 13/2/12)

Which dispute means that Iran has been "'support[ing] and grow[ing] ties with Armenia, with which Azerbaijan has a territorial dispute', said Mehman Aliyev, director of the independent news agency Turan." (Where spy wars...)

Hmm... tell me more:

"An Iranian delegation led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is making an official visit to the Armenian capital Yerevan to increase bilateral ties. Ahmadinejad is making the visit upon the formal invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan... Iranian and Armenian officials signed 5 memorandum of understanding governing a variety of fields of cooperation, including the construction of hydroelectric turbines for the Aras dam, cooperation between the Institute for Standards and Industrial Research of Iran and the Armenian National Institute for Standards as well as cooperation in the fields of social welfare, employment and environment protection. Other major topics of discussion include Iranian oil exports to Armenia and the construction of railways, which builds upon a July 2007 MOU starting feasibility studies on the possibility of constructing an Armenian-Iranian railway." (Armenia, Iran to deepen cooperation, UPI, 23/12/11)

OK, got that? Iran's in Armenia because Israel's in Azerbaijan.

But, hey, what's this? NSW Labor MLC and deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel, Walt Secord, "has incurred the wrath of Azerbaijan for visiting one of its disputed territories and siding with the sovereignty claims of the seperatist Armenians... A supporter of various separatist causes, Mr Secord visited the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh last [December] as part of a self-funded trip that also took him to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Kurdish Iraq... 'While official recognition of the mountainous Karabakh Republic is a matter for the federal Australian government', Mr Secord said, 'I feel I have a duty as the co-deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia to see Armenia and the mountainous Karabakh Republic first-hand'." (MP's separatist sympathy prompts ire in Azerbaijan, Phillip Coorey, Sydney Morning Herald, 30/1/11)

Right. What does Secord think he's doing dissing Mossad's top tourist destination, the wonderfully porous Azerbaijan? What could possibly have possessed him to take his eye off the main game and go troppo in the wilds of Nagorno-Karabakh?

Buggered if I know, but guess what happened to me only the other day.

I was sauntering down Macquarie St in the immediate vicinity of State Parliament when I happened upon a truly mountainous figure, a sort of Nagorno-Karabakh X 2, whom I instantly recognised as Walt Secord. No kidding! He was in heated conversation with a more molehill-sized individual, whom I also recognised instantly as Vic Alhadeff of the Jewish Board of Deputies, a figure much given these days to ducking into state parliament to gee up the anti-BDS brigade. He was tearing strips off Secord, let me tell you. And this, I swear, is what I heard him saying:

Walt, maaate, Israel's got a thing going with Azerbaijan, and you, co-chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel for Zion'sake, you reckon you have a duty to see Iranian-backed Armenia! Are you off your rocker?!

I mean, our friends, the Azerbaijanis, are furious! Listen to this: "Officials from the Azerbaijani embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara, complained to the Australian mission in the same city about the visit by the 'senator of the Australian state of NSW, Walt Secord'." (ibid)

Who the bloody hell do you think you are? Secord of Nagorno-Karabakh for Zion's sake? Walt, maaate, keep this up and the next thing you know you'll be deserting us for the NSW Parliamentary Friends of the Palestinians!

Witches Brew 2

The second speaker for David Clarke's anti-BDS resolution in the NSW Legislative Council on 15/9/11 was Labor MLC Walt Secord, who I've had reason to profile before on this blog (An Israeli-Occupied Mind, 27/6/11).

Secord likes to pretend that he has no idea why Max Brenner:

"Let us put this into perspective. This is a chocolate cafe. It is a food business. It is not a manufacturer of landmines or military weapons. Max Brenner makes and sells hot chocolate and serves waffles. There is no reasoning to these protests."

Which allows him to smear BDS as, surprise, surprise, anti-Semitic:

"Hence I must conclude that Max Brenner is targeted for one reason: because it is an Israeli business and it is a Jewish business..."

And the proof? Well, none is forthcoming. So all we get is your baseless, grubby smear:

"What is even more distressing is the racist rhetoric employed in the BDS campaign. On occasions some of those supporting BDS have lapsed into what I can only describe as naked anti-Semitism."

And of course, no anti-BDS smear job would be complete without the by now ritual reference to the Nazi era/Holocaust:

"Members may not be aware that Australia has the honour of being home to the highest percentage of Holocaust survivors in a Jewish community outside Israel. So it is understandable that there is strong concern about BDS in Australia, especially in the Jewish community. They know firsthand what can follow once businesses are singled out simply because they are owned by Jewish people. They know firsthand what happened in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s when businesses were identified as being Jewish... The experience of history, repeatedly, is that this is where it starts. States do not slide into systemic racism overnight. Instead, liberties are traded off one at a time. I never thought I would see the day when a Jewish business was targeted in Australia, and that is what is occurring with the BDS."

And when you're done muttering darkly about the alleged naked anti-Semitism of BDS protesters, why not blow your own trumpet?:

"In late August I had the honour of being elected deputy chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel. It is now one of the largest parliamentary groups. (The Hon. Dr Peter Phelps: Thanks to you!) I acknowledge the interjection. Some 60 parliamentarians, from the conservative and progressive side of politics, turned up to the inaugural meeting."

How interesting! Think about this: there are 134 polliewaffles in the NSW Parliament (LC: 42 LA: 92). What does it say about the extent of Zionist influence in NSW politics that "some 60" of the buggers felt compelled, or otherwise allowed themselves to be corraled, into turning up for the inaugural meeting of the PFoI? But it gets worse: it seems that the position of PFoI's chair is something our state parliamentarians are actually fighting over, with Secord terribly miffed that instead of he and Gabrielle Upton, MP for Vaucluse, being joint chairs, Premier O'Farrell demoted Secord to mere deputy chair. (Secord back-seated as Friends of Israel is revived, jwire.com.au, 15/8/11)

Terribly tough titties for the Michael Danby wannabe of NSW state politics.

An Israeli-Occupied Mind

Spare a thought for all those Labor flaks and minders who lost their jobs at the last NSW state election. Where did they go when the electorate massacred their masters?

Well, one of them, Walt Secord, who had worked for the likes of Bob Carr, Kevin Rudd and Kristina Keneally, has found himself on the plush, cushioned benches of the NSW Legislative Council. But this is no sinecure, no retirement home. Even here there's work to do!

You see, no sooner had Walt dusted himself off, loosened his tie and rolled up his sleeves, than he set about the vital work of attacking one of our most basic human rights and diverting our men in blue away from their routine duties to 'protect' Israel's business interests down under:

"Newly appointed Member of Legislative Council Walt Secord has wasted no time demonstrating his support for Israel. Secord has called on NSW Police Minister Michael Gallacher to provide assurances for the protection of businesses with Israeli links in light of recent Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) protests. Secord, a former Australian Jewish News journalist, asked a series of formal questions on Monday, including what measures the government was taking to protect businesses and patrons affected by actions, such as the demonstration outside the Max Brenner chocolate shop on June 11. He also asked about the status of 2 arrests made on that evening and if the Government had plans to respond to similar incidents. 'With the BDS gaining support, the NSW Government and the Police Minister must ensure that companies with an Israeli connection are protected and are not unfairly targeted', Secord said. 'BDS is part of a worldwide attempt to isolate Israel, to boycott Israeli products, creativity, programs and culture. It has reached Australia and that is of concern. I vehemently oppose the BDS campaign'. Secord said that the government must protect members of the community from harm during protests. 'The NSW Government has a responsibility to protect staff and people who are drinking coffee or hot chocolate on a weekend morning in a cafe from violent protesters', he said. Secord also encouraged people who support Israel to visit a Max Brenner outlet and make a purchase 'as an act of solidarity and defiance against the BDS'. While not Jewish, Secord worked at The AJN between 1988 and 1991." (Police called to action on BDS, AJN, 24/6/11)

Like many Labor politicians, Walter is a welter of contradictions and a source of much puzzlement to any thinking man or woman. For those of you with an interest in the 'clueless conduct and views that madden to crime' of our polliewaffles (to adapt one of the more memorable lines from Ambrose Bierce's wonderful definition of the word 'maiden'), some insights may be gleaned by a perusal of Walt's - ahem - maiden speech of June 1:

"Growing up on a [Canadian] Indian reserve in the 1970s politicised me and made me finely and deeply attuned to injustice. I am the product of an interracial bicultural marriage. My father... is a full-blooded Mohawk-Ojibway status treaty Indian."

You'd think Walt's upbringing would've given him some insight into the brutal dynamics of settler-colonial societies and an ability to sense the species wherever found, including Israel, but no, seems he fell in with the wrong crowd:

"After a short stint as a youth employment public servant and a reporter on the Toronto Star... I migrated to Australia in September 1988... Shortly after arriving in Sydney I got a job at The Australian Jewish News. I worked there for almost 4 years. They gave me a go as one of their first non-Jewish reporters. I am pleased to say that that fair go was rewarded when I won an Australian Human Rights Award for a series of articles I wrote for that publication. But my proudest time at the AJN was defending myself against British Revisionist David Irving, who took legal action against me for appropriately describing him in print as a Holocaust denier... My links to the Jewish community predate my coming to Sydney and stretch back to the Indian reserve in Canada. I also owe a special debt of gratitude to a wonderful Jewish man, a mentor from my childhood. He is the late Godel Silber, a Holocaust survivor who became friends with my father... Mr Silber was extremely observant and religious. He told me about... the importance of Israel, the Holocaust and the need to fight racism and intolerance... Mr Silber also sparked my interest in the prevention of genocide..."

Yes, seems like Walt had it drummed into him that being a Jew automatically meant being a Zionist, and that you needed to tackle racism, discrimination and intolerance in every corner of the world but one:

"I will never be able to fathom the desire of one group to exterminate another race or faith. I have studied the Shoah, the Armenian Genocide, Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda."

But not the Nakba. The bullshit's there, of course:

"Everything I have learned only reinforces my strong commitment to cross-cultural diversity and interfaith activities."

But the bottom line is always:

"I am also a strong and vocal supporter of Israel. I support a two-state solution. But I also believe that Israel has a right to defend herself within secure and safe borders. On that note, earlier this week I approached leader of the Opposition Robertson, and obtained his approval to assume the Labor position on a reactivated NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel."

A most peculiar blind spot, but not uncommon in the ever thinning ranks of the ALP.

If not Walt, then other native Americans know a genocidal, colonial-settler project when they see one. A representative of the American Indian Movement West (AIM-WEST), Choctaw man Jimbo Simmons, will be on the latest blockade-busting Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

And a graphic description of the occupied Palestinian territories under the gun has appeared in the Mohawk Nation News. Titled Did you visit your relatives today? Is this Palestine or soon-to-be-Ongwehonwe, here's the conclusion. Sound familiar?:

"Palestinians say this is how they are being treated by the Israelis. Canadian police and military are being sent to Israel for training on 'crowd control'. Many of these fascist tactics were used on us during the 1990 Mohawk Oka Crisis. Five thousand Canadian troops surrounded 3 of our communities behind razor wire and fully armed troops because we opposed the desecration of our burial and ceremonial sites. We were surrounded by walls of police, soldiers, arms and checkpoints for 78 days. We had to wait hours to get through them and suffer from specially designed humiliation at the hands of police and troops. Canadian soldiers went into Mohawk homes purportedly looking for weapons. They smashed everything and even s--t on the floors. Many of us were arrested for 'political activities', which is called 'administrative detention'." (25/11/08)