Dave Sharma: Lolly for the Lobby

What a surprise:

"Minister Paul Fletcher and Liberal candidate for Wentworth Dave Sharma have announced funds of over $210,000 to The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies... Fletcher said 'This funding will benefit a diverse range of members of the Wentworth community including boosting critical support services and providing opportunities for enriching social interaction and activity.' The NSW JBOD is part of a total amount of $450,000 to benefit Wentworth.

*$112,500... for its We Are All Sydney: Community Leadership Program
*$99,225... for its Respect, Understanding, Acceptance Program

"The NSWJBD President Lesli Berger said: 'The funds will enable us to take both of these programs to new heights. Given the ever-increasing importance of engaging with other communities and faith groups, we commend and thank the federal government and Dave Sharma for recognising this vital need and making funds available for these programs'." (Funding boost for The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, jwire.com.au, 15/5/19)

Now if you want to go beyond the spin and see just what kind of sweetness and light the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has been dispensing in NSW over the years, here are just 3 of my posts on the subject:

Building Bridges... to Israel (14/12/13)
Israel 101 for Cops (28/10/11)
Coming to a School Near You (23/8/10)

Just click on the 'Board of Deputies' label below and scroll down.

The Israelification of the NSW Police Force

How interesting:

"The NSW Police Force has been ordered to publish an apology and implement racial vilification training for senior officers after a tribunal found a police training exercise in October 2017 racially vilified Palestinians and Arabs and portrayed them as potential terrorists.

"'Exercise Pantograph' featured hundreds of police... at Sydney's Central Station as though they were responding to a terrorist event... During the exercise, two officers pretending to be 'active armed offenders' wore headscarves as they boarded a train, simulated stabbing and shooting people, held hostages, then tried to escape before being caught by police. The pretend offenders displayed the Islamic State flag during the exercise, pushed people to the floor, held train passengers at gunpoint, and held up their index fingers in a salute notoriously associated with Islamic State." (From Police to apologise for 'vilifying Arabs' in terrorism exercise, Georgina Mitchell, Sydney Morning Herald, 3/5/19)

No mention here, you'll note, of how the hapless commuters managed to cope with this kind of treatment, but, hey, who, in this neoliberal police state, gives a stuff about them? (Anyone btw who thinks my use of the term 'police state' a tad hyperbolic, might like to peruse the article NSW: moving to a police state, Ugur Nedim, Sydney Criminal Lawyers, 19/9/16)

To continue:

"Yesterday, two members of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) found the headscarves were not necessary and would have been recognised by the public as keffiyehs, used by Palestinian and Arab communities. The use of the headscarves had the capacity to encourage members of the public to believe, 'Palestinians and/or Arabs were to be feared, despised, hated, and/or held in serious contempt as possibly or probably being terrorists', especially given that it was NSW Police who used them, NCAT found."

Now there's a backstory to this, but, predictably, you won't find anyone alluding to it in mainstream media outlets. For one thing their memory's too short. For another they're running scared.

As the posts filed under my 'NSW Police' label indicate, since the election of the Liberal O'Farrell/Baird/ Berejiklian NSW state governments (2011-), the boys in blue have displayed what can only be described as an extraordinary, even Zionist, interest in anyone in the state seeking to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinians.

But why? Maybe the following snippet provides a clue:

"Police officers in NSW will take part in a seminar where they will be taught about the threat of terrorism faced by Jews and Israelis, the history of Zionism and the Jewish community's connection to the Holy Land. The course... is being conducted by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBD) and the Communal Security Group (CSG) for members of the police forces' anti-terrorism unit." (Israel 101 course for police, The Australian Jewish News, 28/10/11)

My post on that is titled Israel 101 for Cops, 28/10/11, but feel free to read through the other 11 posts on this subject and be amazed at just how focused the NSW Police have been on pro-Palestinian activism. Oh, and enjoy your next train ride.

Some of Our Best Friends Are Palestinian...

"NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff stressed the broad nature of the visits to the region his group coordinates. 'All our programs include the West Bank, where participants are briefed by senior Palestinian officials,' he said. 'This gives Australian delegations an opportunity to see the situation first-hand and form their own conclusions." (Bishop calls for Shorten to stop ALP ban on Israel visits, Christian Kerr/Tessa Ackerman, The Australian, 28/1/16)

Hm... senior Palestinian officials?

Vic means these guys:

"The Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority works closely with the Israeli occupation. Earlier this month, for instance, Israeli officials praised the PA for 'cracking down' on opposition and resistance to Israel's occupation in the West Bank. The PA's leader, Mahmoud Abbass, has previously called this so-called security coordination a 'sacred' duty... The PA's intelligence chief Majid Faraj boasted to Defense News recently that his forces had arrested 100 Palestinians in recent months and were working closely with Israeli occupation forces to prevent the unpopular PA from collapsing. 'We, together with our counterparts in the Israeli security establishment, with the Americans and others, are all trying to prevent that collapse,' Faraj said." (Infographic: 7 ways the Palestinian Authority helps Israeli occupation, Ali Abunimah, electronicintifada.net, 26/1/16)

The Day Sharri Markson Went Feral

This is really too delicious... Journalist Sharri Markson detained on Israeli visit, Matthew Knott, Sydney Morning Herald, 22/11/15. (Annotations - mine, all mine):

"A prominent Australian journalist..."

"If little Sharri-pops is a 'journalist' then I'm a Kardashian," tweeted Mike Carlton in response to the above revelation. (23/11/15)

"... was detained by Israeli security officials in tense scenes last week during a visit to a hospital treating victims of the Syrian civil war."

Oh yes, that hospital. Ziv. Strange place, Ziv.

Must be the only 'hospital' in the Western world that patches up 'Syrian' jihadis and doubles as as a pilgrimage centre for rambamming foreign politicians and journalists experiencing the joy of Israeli apartheid.

"Sharri Markson, a senior writer at The Australian..."

Sharri-pops has had an interesting career trajectory: Cleo>Media Editor of The Australian>Senior writer - whatever that is - at The Australian. She first came to my attention for her coverage of/revelry in Mike Carlton's harassment by Fairfax management for speaking out against the Israeli cauldronisation of Gaza last year.  

"... was detained for questioning by security officials at the Ziv Medical Centre in northern Israel on Thursday. Markson was travelling with other Australian journalists on a week-long study tour organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council."

Study tour? Pull the other! Remember my definition of the verb Rambam?: "To be sponsored by smooth-talking Israel lobbyists in Australia for a grooming session conducted by tough-talking PR people in Israel, with a view to the sponsored adopting the missionary position for Israel, when required, in Australia. Usually used in relation to Australian politicians, media hacks and other useful fools." (For those interested in just how widespread this practice is, see my 30/3/09 post I've been to Israel too.) 

"Sources said..."

Knott can only mean fellow rambammer Bevan Shields, Fairfax Media federal politics editor.

"... Markson became 'aggravated' during the 'tense' incident in which security officials demanded she hand over her passport, mobile phone and notes. 'It was very intense and dramatic, a source said. 'There was a major commotion and suddenly there was security everywhere.'"

"Don't you know who I am?! cried little Sharri, stamping a Jimmy Choo in rage. 'You just wait till Chris Mitchell hears about this." (Mike Carlton tweet, 23/11/15)

How I envy that proverbial fly on the wall!

"Over 500 Syrians - including wounded fighters battling the Assad regime - have been treated at the Ziv Medical Centre in Safed, near the Syrian border."

And thereby hangs a (sorry) tale. For the full story on the identity of those wounded fighters battling the Assad regime, see my 3/7/15 post Those Rebels, That Hospital, Our Ambassador & His Wife.

"In a briefing before the tour began, hospital staff told the journalists that the patients could be at risk upon their return to Syria if it became known they had sought treatment in Israel."

Funny how these guys just waltz across the border into Israel, are immediately picked up by waiting ambulances, whisked off to free medical care, patched up, and sent back to fight Asad. Anyone else trying to penetrate Israel's border would be shredded on the spot. Did it ever occur to Sharri-pops or any of her other rambammers to wonder thus. Rhetorical question, of course.

"The hospital uses elaborate methods to secretly transfer the patients in and out of Syria."

Check them out in my 12/12/14 post, A Side of Israel the World Too Rarely Acknowledges.

"The 8 journalists were instructed not to record the names of the patients or to take photos that could identify them."

8! Hands up all those Australian journalists who've been rambammed? My God there are a lot of you!

Now we know about Sharri-pop's mob - see below - but who were the other 4? According to Guardian Australia's Amanda Meade, they were: David Lipson, Sky News political reporter; and Aaron Patrick, print editor of the Australian Financial Review. (Sharri Markson: journalist at The Australian in run-in with Israeli security, 22/11/15)

That accounts for 6, so who were the other 2?  

"Fairfax media understands that during the visit, Markson broke away from the other journalists to speak to the patients without supervision and exchanged contact details with them. This led to her being detained by security forces."

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies supremo, Vic Alhadeff, whose job it was to keep an eye on his charges, attempted to crash tackle Ms. Markson, but proved no match for Markson's Jimmy Choos as he sprawled on the hospital floor to the cheers of the convalescing jihadis. Before the hapless Alhadeff could get to his feet and splutter, 'For G-d's sake, Sharri, he's only after a sex slave,' Ms Markson had swapped email addresses with the hottest jihadi in the ward... and the rest is history.

"Fairfax media understands the incident was resolved following intervention by NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Vic Alhadeff. Mr Alhadeff, who has returned to Australia, said: 'In that regard, we are very mindful of not disclosing their identity. There was an unfortunate misunderstanding but the situation was quickly resolved'."

Too right you are!

"Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein, who was not on the trip, confirmed a 'kerfuffle' had occurred at the hospital. He said the council representative on the trip told him Markson 'took down the email address of a Syrian patient, security officials got wind of it and asked her about it on the way out. Most times it's very clear to all the participants what the guidelines are."

Although hardly any of them, it seems, are clear about The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance's guidelines/ Code of Ethics: "4. Do not allow personal interest, or any belief, commitment, payment, gift or benefit to undermine your accuracy, fairness or independence."

"It's never been an issue before. The condition of visiting the hospital is to respect and maintain the confidentiality of the patients' identities. If anyone's identity was disclosed it would put them at great risk - it's a brutal part of the world."

As any occupied Palestinian will tell you...

"Other reporters on the trip included Daily Telegraph deputy editor Ben English, Fairfax Media federal politics editor Bevan Shields and Channel 7 reporter Alex Hart."

Getting Them While They're Young

The Israel lobby is not going to take the new Palestine-friendly Bob Carr or NSW Labor leader Luke Foley's new directive* on rambamming lying down:

"The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies has announced its new Berger Fellowship program designed to strengthen ties between the Jewish community and future political leaders. The 2015 program is for up-and-coming Labor Party members and has the support of the General Secretary of the NSW ALP.**

"The program has been developed to enable participants to:

*act as a vehicle for the Jewish community and Labor Party
*attend major Jewish community events
*provide advice on events of mutual interest

"The program culminates in a week-long study tour of Israel.

"Participants for the 2015 program are Darren Rodrigo - Office of Bill Shorten. Dave Latham, State Organiser, NSW Labor, Edward McDougall, Senior Advisor, Office of Steve Kamper [MP for Rockdale] and Trent Murray, Co-Convenor Australian Rainbow Labor." (New NSW program for up and coming politicians, jwire.com.au, 30/6/15)

These guys don't miss a trick...

[*See my 1/5/15 post My Solution to NSW Labor's Rambamming problem;**Jamie Clements]

Menage a Trois

Mike's got the hots for Israel:

"Premier Mike Baird addressed the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' luncheon club earlier this month... Baird, who has been in the top job since April last year, has pledged to lead a trade delegation to Israel if elected on March 28 - should he do so he will become the first NSW Premier to visit the Jewish State this century." (Premier Baird at the Board, The Australian Jewish News, 20/2/15)

Miranda's also got the hots for Israel:

"Miranda Devine... Australian columnist and writer, has a conservative stance on a range of social and political issues and was recently on a visit to Israel." (Quoted in an AJN ad listing speakers for the coming United Israel Appeal NSW Campaign 2015 (24/2-11/3)

And for Mike:

"NSW Premier Mike Baird is the political candidate from central casting. Tall, handsome, and popular, he also is a deft financial manager with a clear plan for the state... If Baird falls, so too does any hope for micro-economic reform and responsible fiscal management in Australia... While Baird is ahead in the polls, the 'Abbott factor' is proving toxic, according to candidates doorknocking in their electorates... But other candidates doorknocking in the Liberal heartland of the Hills district say all they hear is praise for Baird. 'People just love him. They say that Mike Baird is a nice bloke,' the people say... Middle-aged women swoon when he walks through a suburban shopping centre to buy a salad sandwich. 'He wears a suit so well,' they gush. A colleague describes him as 'the guy everyone hopes their sister would bring home.' A veteran news photographer says Baird has the 'it factor' - he's cool, like Bill Clinton without the sleaze'." (Why Mike makes us go weak at the knees, Miranda Devine, Sunday Telegraph, 23/2/15)

NB: Apparently, real men do eat salad sandwiches.  

SMH: Independent. No More.

"More stringent approval procedures for cartoons have been introduced at The Sydney Morning Herald, following the publication of a cartoon last year that was described as 'clearly anti-Semitic' by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry." (Gaza cartoon breached Press Council standards, Australian Jewish News, 23/1/15)

So begins the AJN's report on the Press Council's adjudication of Glen Le Lievre's Gaza cartoon. (You can read the PC's adjudication, and my comments on same, in my 20/1/15 post Je Suis Le Lievre & Carlton.) The only real interest in the AJN's report, however, lies in its airing of SMH editor Darren (Yes Sir!) Goodsir's comments on just how Herald staff are now being put through their paces by Zionist trainers:

"Previously section editors had been able to approve illustrations themselves but I raised that, so that myself or the news director, who is effectively my deputy, would need to approve all illustrations,' Goodsir said. He said that there have been several positive outcomes from what was clearly a bad situation. 'The other thing that I did last year, and intend to do again this year, was work with the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) to run a two-hour talk and Q&A session about anti-Semitism.' Goodsir said the first half was about the history of anti-Semitism, and how the media has played a role in that, while the second half was a very productive conversation between the JBOD presenters and senior editors about how things can be interpreted in different ways."

Oh to be a fly on the wall!

And now that Vic Alhadeff (of JBoD) has his foot well and truly in the door, I can see these "very productive conversations" really taking off - wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean? (See my 9/2/12 post The Chosen.) 

But if you think it's only Herald editors who are getting the treatment, check out what's going down at NSW Police HQ (see my 28/10/11 post Israel 101 for Cops) or in your nearest high school (see my 14/12/13 post Building Bridges... to Israel).

Je Suis Le Lievre & Carlton

Remember Glen Le Lievre's powerful cartoon in last year's Sydney MorningHerald, drawn as Israel was 'mowing the grass' in the Gaza Ghetto, and many Israelis - with kippahs (some incorporating the Star of David) and without - were enjoying the spectacle from a nearby hill (some sitting in lounge chairs)?

Remember the knee-jerk allegations of anti-Semitism which followed it?

Remember the equally powerful essay by columnist Mike Carlton which shared the page with it?

Remember how the Herald got the wobbles when the usual suspects began hurling the usual accusations of anti-Semitism at him?

Remember how Carlton ended up resigning from the paper rather than kiss the ring?

Remember the dark threats in Murdoch's Australian about "the organised [Jewish] community getting legal advice and looking closely at its options"?

Well, here's the final (?) chapter in the saga - Press Council Adjudication 1634 of January 15, the subject of which, I note, is exclusively Le Lievre's cartoon. What rubbish it is:

"The Press Council has considered whether its Standards of Practice were breached by a cartoon in the Sydney Morning Herald on 26 July 2014. It was associated with an opinion piece on the conflict in Gaza and depicted an elderly man with a large nose, wearing the distinctively Jewish head covering called a kippah or yarmulke, and sitting in an armchair emblazoned with the Star of David. He was pointing a TV remote control device at an exploding cityscape, implied to be Gaza. Implied to be Gaza!

"The Council asked the publication to comment on whether the cartoon had placed gratuitous emphasis on race or religion. It also asked the publication whether the cartoon could reasonably have expected to cause offence and showed insufficient concern for balancing the sensibilities of some readers with the broader public interest.

"In response, the publication agreed that the cartoon had placed gratuitous emphasis on the Jewishness of its subject and in so doing had inappropriately emphasised religious persuasion rather than Israeli nationality, thereby causing offence. It pointed out that a 650-word apology had been published about a week later."

So the cartoon was thought too Jewish and insufficiently Israeli. The kippah is Jewish, but worn by countless Israelis, including, when it suits him, Netanyahu. The Star of David is Jewish, but is emblazoned on every Israeli flag and death-dealing fighter jet, not to mention on many Israeli kippahs.

If Le Lievre inappropriately emphasised religious persuasion that is because Israel itself, through its appropriation of Jewish religious symbols for its own political ends, inappropriately emphasises religious persuasion.

"The publication also pointed out that the newspaper's Editor in Chief and News Director had subsequently participated in seminars facilitated by the Jewish Board of Deputies to raise awareness about the imagery that could be construed as anti-Semitic. It said further seminars were planned and would be expanded to include the newspaper's senior editorial staff.

"The publication also said that a requirement for extra layers of approval had been introduced for all cartoons prior to publication."

So much for the Herald's slogan "Independent. Always."

"Conclusions: The Council emphasises that cartoons are subject to its Standards of Practice. The application of those standards however, takes account of the fact that readers can reasonably be expected to recognise that cartoons commonly use exaggeration and caricature to a considerable degree and therefore should be interpreted by them with this in mind.

"In this instance, the cartoon's linkage between the Jewish faith and the Israeli rocket attacks on Gaza was reasonably likely to cause great offence to many readers. A linkage with Israeli nationality might have been justifiable in the public interest, despite being likely to cause offence. But the same cannot be said of the implied linkage with the Jewish faith that arose from inclusion of the kippah and the Star of David. Accordingly, the Council's Standards of Practice were breached on the ground of causing greater offence to readers' sensibilities than was justifiable in the public interest.

"The Council welcomes the prominent, extensive and closely-reasoned apology by the publication and its subsequent action to reduce the risk of repetition. The Council commends this approach to other publications."

For the genesis of this complaint to the Press Council see my 7/12/14 post The Whinge Goes On.

As for Mike Carlton, our Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson referred in yesterday's Australian to Carlton "facing a complaint under 18C because of his disgraceful anti-Semitic language." (Charlie Hebdo v 18C: no contest)

Mike's tweeted response (18/1): "I used no 'disgraceful anti-Semitic language' and was not pinged by 18C. Tim Wilson is a posturing fuckwit."

Birds of a Feather

"Representatives from the Jewish community were among the VIPS who welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sydney at a reception on Monday night... Sitting in the front row with NSW Premier Mike Baird and other dignitaries was NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Jeremy Spinak, who congratulated Modi on the speech he delivered to 20,000 people at Sydney Olympic Park." (Jewish leaders meet Indian PM, The Australian Jewish News, 21/11/14)

"Mr Modi's links with hardline Hindu groups, especially the Swayamsevak Sangh or RSS, continue to worry many from religious minorities in India. There was a clear reminder of this when about 300 members of Sydney's Sikh community staged a protest outside Allphones Arena where Mr Modi spoke on Monday. Karandeep Singh Chadha, a spokesman for the protesters, says many people from religious minorities in India do not feel safe and that groups associating with Mr Modi have an 'agenda to make India a Hindu Nation' by wiping out other religions." (Protesters shadow the visits of Chinese and Indian leaders, Matt Wade & John Garnaut, Sydney Morning Herald, 19/11/14)

Our Most Recently Rambammed

Sarah Ferguson: How do you account for [the Israel lobby] wielding so much power?
Bob Carr: I think political donations and a program of giving trips to MPs and journalists to Israel
(7.30 Report, 9/4/14)

The names of the four journalists recently rambammed by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (but not divulged in last week's Australian Jewish News - see my 15/11/14 post Why So Coy? 2) have at last appeared in this week's AJN, along with some of their deathless 'insights'.

Drum roll (or should that be shofar blast?):

David Wroe, Fairfax's defence and national security correspondent:

"Commenting on why the international media is harder on the Israelis than the Palestinians [???!!!], Wroe said it does 'expect more' from Israel. '[They] are the grown-ups [???!!!] in this conflict. They are a relatively wealthy democracy [???!!!], a sophisticated country with high education levels, they have the support of the world's most powerful country. We hold them to a higher standard [???!!!]. Does that let the Palestinians off the hook too frequently, yes, almost certainly, I wouldn't deny that. They literally do get away with murder'." (Media's double standards, 21/11/14)

I imagine Gideon Levy's piece, reproduced in my 28/10/14 post Palestinian Resistance 101, would be wasted on this goose.

Joe Aston, Australian Financial Review columnist and Nine Network roving reporter:

"... said 'very sadly' that he thought peace was 'a dream in the medium term'. 'When [PA president Mahmoud] Abbas talks about the attempted murder of Rabbi Glick and observes that it was committed by a martyr, a hero, it makes a lot of his statements in English very meaningless [but] I think Bibi's continued establishment of settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem is, if not central, certainly incendiary... certainly announcing growth in those settlements during the Kerry negotiations was a difficult sell for Israel'."

Zzzz...

Laura Jayes, Sky News political reporter "was unavailable to present on the evening."

Shucks!

Rowan Dean, editor, The Spectator Australia:

"The crux of the matter is, quite simply, the Palestinians are not interested in anything that allows a Jewish majority state to exist alongside them. Their TV programs, their crossword puzzles, their kids' books are all about demeaning Jews. Arabs are told from birth that Jews are really subhuman and to be got rid of'."

Pretty hardcore, eh? No wonder, this bloke's got real form - just click on the label below.

OK, that's that lot then, but we still don't know who the 4 journalists are who were rambammed by AIJAC at the same time - see my 15/11/14 post Why So Coy? 2.

Why So Coy? 2

Sarah Ferguson: How do you account for [the Israel lobby] wielding so much power?
Bob Carr: I think political donations and a program of giving trips to MPs and journalists to Israel (7.30 Report, 9/4/14)

***

For the second time the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and AIJAC have shied away from naming those who've just returned from one of their joint Journalists Missions:

"Four journalists who participated in the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' recent mission to Israel will report on their experiences and impressions next Monday, November 17, 7.30pm at Central Synagogue. The intensive week-long program included a visit to Sderot, a tour of Yad Vashem, and briefings from Prime Minister's spokesperson Mark Regev and other top authorities. The group also heard from Palestinian spokespersons in Ramallah and visited a Druze village. '[The mission] gave the participants rare access to key players across the board,' JBOD CEO Vic Alhadeff, who accompanied the journalists, said. 'We encourage members of the community to turn out to hear what they have to say.'... The group was accompanied by four journalists who travelled as guests of AIJAC." (Journos to report back, Australian Jewish News, 14/11/14)

Is this omission of names becoming a trend? If so, could it perhaps be in response to my popular file - I've been to Israel too, 30/3/09 - in which the names of those journalists and politicians who just can't help themselves are recorded on an ongoing basis?

Building Bridges... to Israel

While you weren't looking:

"The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) charted new territory last week when it expanded its bridge-building work to the far-western outback town of Broken Hill. It also visited the state's second city, Newcastle, for the first time in 20 years... These tours to regional NSW are a vital aspect of the work of the Board... [T]hey enable us to disseminate in-depth perspectives on Israel... The week's presentations reached a total of about 1500 high school students, principals and teachers..." (JBOD reaches the regions, The Australian Jewish News, 6/12/13)

See also my 23/8/10 post Coming to a School Near You?

Why So Coy? 1

Why, I wonder, is the J-Wire site so coy about naming these rambammers:

"The journalists who participated in the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' recent Journalists Mission to Israel will address a public meeting in Sydney next week. The journalists - from the Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News Business, SBS Television World News and Channel Ten News - participated in an intensive week-long study mission. While in Israel they visited the Lebanese border, the Gazan border, West Bank settlements, the Australian Light Horse memorial in Beersheva and a Palestinian refugee camp, were briefed by a range of top-level experts across a broad range of areas and disciplines, and spent time at such iconic addresses as Yad Vashem, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Masada, among a range of other activities... The Board of Deputies Journalists Mission... was conducted in conjunction with AIJAC." (Journos report back, jwire.com.au, 27/11/13)

Be that as it may, I shall nevertheless reserve a spot for them on my long list of the rambammed: I've Been to Israel Too (30/3/09).

And while on the subject of rambamming, the following disclosure appeared at the foot of a 'report' (No borders for doctor saving kids, David King, The Australian, 23/11/13) on the patching up of wounded Syrians at Israel's Ziv Medical Centre*:

"David King travelled to Israel on a study tour provided by the Australia-Israel & Jewish Affairs Council."

[*On Ziv Medical Centre, see my 3/9/13 post Our Man in Tel Aviv 2.]

Join the Dots...

1) "The centrality of Israel in the workings of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) and other mainstream 'peak bodies', such as... the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD), is misplaced and a waste of time and limited community resources. Local issues, some of which include aged care, social welfare, education, abuse, alcohol/drugs and social entrepreneurship, deserve the attention of groups whose imprimatur is to support the community needs of Australian Jews." (Community begins at home, Manny Waks, The Australian Jewish News, 9/11/12) (See my 14/1/13 post Where's This All Going?)

2) "The Jewish National Fund (JNF) in NSW raised more than $8 million last year it was revealed at their annual general meeting last Tuesday night. President Alex Abulafia said it was a staggering amount of money and it shows the community is connecting with the organisation and its projects... He said that people seem to enjoy the fact that they can go to Israel and visit buildings, facilities, water reservoirs and sites that they have contributed to... Abulafia said that in a couple of years, he hopes JNF NSW can raise $10 million each year." (JNF NSW raises more than $8 mil, The AJN, 17/5/13)

3) "If you thought poverty wasn't a problem for the Jewish community, think again. A recent report from Monash University's Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation revealed 6500 Jews in Victoria (18.4% of the community) and 5000 in NSW (15.7%) are scraping by with a weekly income of between just $200 and $400." (The poverty precipice, Timna Jacks, The AJN, 17/5/13)

Nailing Racists or Nobbling BDS?

Baruch O'Farrell's parliamentary Inquiry into Racial Vilification Law in NSW* is now underway and our friends from the Israel lobby, seasoned actors all, have delivered the usual award-winning performance. Particularly strong this time around is their timing:

"On Yom Hashoah last week, Jews around the world commemorated what is arguably the most tragic example of the extreme consequences of racial vilification. That same day, a NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD) delegation - comprising former president David Knoll, CEO Vic Alhadeff and Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) executive director Peter Wertheim - was arguing that NSW's racial vilification laws are inadequate in front of a Legislative Council inquiry. Knoll and Wertheim, both lawyers, have extensive experience in dealing with racial vilification cases. 'We note that we make this presentation on the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the day each year, Yom Hashoah, that the Holocaust is remembered across the world,' Knoll told the committee, which was chaired by Member of the Legislative Council David Clarke... Using anti-Indian posters in shop windows as a practical example - echoing similar signs against Jews displayed in Nazi Germany - Knoll outlined how section 20D of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 currently makes it difficult for racial vilification cases to be prosecuted. 'Requiring proof of actual or likely intimidation or harassment, or of a direct connection between a threat and likely harm to a person or property, constitute - as a practical matter - an insurmountable obstacle to prosecution,' he explained." (Board fronts Racial Vilification Law inquiry, The Australian Jewish News, 19/4/13)

So what do these Israel advocates want?

In their submission they state that a revamped law should target "public conduct that intentionally or recklessly incites racial hatred or racially harasses others." (And please note that they want "the publication of material on the Internet" included under the heading of "public conduct.")

"We do not," they stress, giving the game away, "advocate the criminal proscription of robust public debate on any topic, unless the manner of the debate descends to the level of such conduct."

Now don't you just love the proviso: unless the manner of the debate descends to the level of such conduct?

Since when, for dyed-in-the-wool political Zionists, has the honest defence of Palestinian rights ever not descended to the level of anti-Semitism?

Two aspects of their argument should give pause for concern:

The first is a reference to 'interpretation'. At one point in their submission they talk of a "slogan" being "interpreted as inciting people to exterminate Jews."

If BDS protesters were ever hauled into court, which I believe is the real agenda here, one can easily imagine what kind of interpretation would placed on their chant 'From the river to the sea/Palestine will be free'.

The second is a reference to 'perception'. "The vilificatory act may be perceived by the target person or group as extremely threatening."

So a Zionist alleging racial vilification need only assert that he feels threatened for the matter to end up in court?

The authors of the submission further state that "[t]he harm to specific minority groups who are the targets of vilificatory conduct goes well beyond merely 'offending' them. The harm is in the impairment of their ability to go about their daily lives with a sense of safety and security."

So, if a BDS protest outside a Max Brenner chocolate shop is enough to make 'Max' feel he's back in thirties Berlin with an impaired ability to go about his life with a sense of safety and security, then it's in the slammer with these BDS protesters, is it?

It is my fear that if the current legislation, revamped along such subjective lines, is used against BDS protesters, then a lot of good people could potentially be spending a lot of time in court, and possibly even in jail.

It is worth comparing the Israel lobbyists' nonsense with the submission of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, which argues that only "serious" racial vilification such as "action taken by certain individuals in the lead-up to the 2005 Cronulla Riots," should be the target of this law. In contrast with the kind of subjective elements proposed for inclusion in the legislation by the Zionist lobbyists, the  CCL wants there to be an "objective element to the offence [of racial vilification] which references the likely result of the offending conduct," that is "where a breach of the peace is likely to ensue."

[*See my 15/4/13 post And the Real Agenda is... for material on the genesis of this inquiry.]

Doing the Donkey* in the NSW Knesset 12

On the speech of of The Hon. Trevor Khan, National Party, in the NSW Legislative Assembly, arising out of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel (PFoI) "study mission" 'debate' of March 14:

Trev's a no-nonsense man, bless him. Back in 2011 when his MLC colleagues were 'debating' BDS in the Upper House, he dismissed BDS protesters as a bunch of ratbags,* and this time around, he's given the whole bloody Parliamentary Friends of Anywhere the big thumbs down:

"I have made a deliberate decision not to be a member of the NSW PFoI, the NSW PFo Lebanon or any group in that regard. In my view, the issues of the Middle East are extraordinarily complex and it is impossible to be a member of one group without offending the other groups. As I have said in other circumstances, my concern is that we live in a liberal democracy and a melting pot of cultures. All cultures must be respected in our country, whether it is in respect of this conflict or the conflict in my grandfather's country, India. If we bring those disputes to Australia we risk bringing upon ourselves a nightmare of ethnic and religious disputes that we will always regret and that has been reflected in part in some of the debate today."

Trev reckons that Max Brenner bloke's got a lot to answer for:

"I remember standing here dealing with the famous issue of Max Brenner and The Greens' passion in that respect. One can only be left appalled with regards to the hysteria that he is capable of bringing to a debate simply because of some bizarre political reason."

But hey, Shaoquett Moselmane's a top bloke:

"The passion The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane brings to this debate is different. He is to be congratulated on the passion he brings both to the broader ethnic community, and not just the Christians or Muslims."

Alas, despite his down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach, Trev still seems clueless when it comes to the mob who are really stirring the ethnic and religious pot in the NSW Knesset:

"I pay tribute to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies for encouraging and assisting this tour to go ahead..."

Be that as it may, the absolute final word fell to fellow Nat and mover of the original motion, Rick Colless:

Having taken the plunge and chugalugged the Zionist Kool-Aid like a schoolie on a bender in Bali, Colless' reply lays bare the truly shocking mental price he's paid for such foolishness:

"The Hon. Shaoquett Moselmane said that what was originally Palestine is now Israel. As he would know, originally Palestine includes all of Jordan, so why are the Palestinians not forcing themselves back into Jordan? Most Jordanian people are of Palestinian origin. There is more to the story than simply saying that Israel has taken their land. The honourable member made reference to the Gaza Strip. The 2006 election gave Hamas control of Gaza and the Jews and Christians living there left because they knew what would happen. Some 18 months later, Hamas threw about 600 Fatah people off roofs and killed them. All of these issues must be considered."

Where does one even begin with this guy?

Needless to say, the NSW Knesset being the NSW Knesset, the motion was put and resolved in the affirmative.

To sum up, although the subject of Palestine/Israel has cropped up before in state politics, this time around we seem to be witnessing a concerted move by the Israel lobby to achieve the kind of full spectrum dominance, to borrow the American military term, it already takes for granted in the federal sphere.

I've already marshaled much of the supporting evidence in my 5/8/12 post Israel Now Core NSW Government Business, but here I go again:

Under Baruch O'Farrell's regime we've so far seen:

1) A threat to sack the pro-BDS Marrickville Council in 2011.
2) The inauguration of a Liberal Friends of Israel in August 2012, part of whose activities reportedly involve "intelligence and policy briefings."
3) The further inauguration of a Parliamentary Friends of Israel.
4) The announcement, at a June 2012 Israel Independence Day function, of the formation of a parliamentary committee to revamp NSW's anti-vilification laws. (With a view to criminalising anti-Zionism, BDS?) Note that he also swore, at the same function, to "reaffirm his unwavering commitment to Israel."
5) NSW Police trying (but failing) to prevent a Nakba march taking place in the NSW Supreme Court in May last year (See my 13/5/12 post NSW Police Seek to Can Nakba Commemoration).
6) Jewish Board of Deputies seminars for the NSW Police (See my 28/10/11 post Israel 101 for Cops).
7) The great BDS 'debate' of September 2011, the subject of my Witches Brew series.
8) The January 2013 PFoI 'study tour' to Israel and resulting 'debate', the subject of this Doing the Donkey in the NSW Knesset series.
9) The holding of functions in state parliament occasioned by events in the Jewish religious calendar. (For example, a November 2012 pre-Chanukah function in which the premier revealed that his name was the equivalent of Baruch in Hebrew.)

I rest my case.

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

Where's This All Going?

Yesterday's Sun-Herald report began innocently enough:

"The controversial commentators Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt are due to be called before an inquiry that will consider strengthening anti-discrimination laws to make it easier to convict people for serious racial vilification. The inquiry was ordered by the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, who is concerned there have been no successful criminal prosecutions in the history of the NSW laws and that they have fallen out of step with community expectations. The move is likely to inflame the debate over freedom of speech, amid warnings that broadening the laws could be dangerous and unacceptable." (O'Farrell moves to strengthen hate laws, Sean Nicholls)

Hm... maybe that'll give Jones and Bolt pause before they shoot off their mouths again, I thought. I read on:

"The parliamentary inquiry will focus on Section 20D of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act, which deals with the criminal offence of 'serious racial vilification' and requires proof 'beyond a reasonable doubt' for a prosecution. Penalties of up to $5500 and 6 months' jail apply to anyone found guilty of inciting 'hatred', 'serious contempt' or 'severe ridicule' of a person or group by threatening physical harm to them or their property or inciting others to do so on the basis of their race... A spokesman for Mr O'Farrell said it was 'questionable' whether this section of the act 'constitutes a realistic test or is in line with community expectations. The Premier has therefore asked the [parliamentary law and justice] committee to report on whether section 20D is effective and if not, provide recommendations that will improve its efficacy with regard to the continued importance of freedom of speech,' he said."

Hm... community expectations, eh? So the people of NSW are up in arms over the efficacy of Section 20D of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act (1989)? Hey, I didn't know that! And so I ploughed on until mention of a certain, all too familiar, name caused the proverbial penny to drop:

"The chief executive of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, Vic Alhadeff, said the NSW law was 'completely ineffective in that for all practical purposes it is impossible to prove the elements of the offence in any specific case.'"

Right. My mind snapped back to last year's mega Israel Independence Day bash, mentioned in my 9/9/12 post From Flower to Flower, where Baruch O'Farrell addressed "550 leaders of NSW," "reaffirmed his government's unwavering commitment to Israel and announced a review of the state's racial vilification legislation."

Clearly, thought I, this is about more than the likes of Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt. Could it have to do, perhaps, with the tsunami of anti-Semitism currently sweeping the country? Well, no, because, contrary to certain parties who can detect an anti-Zionist insult sealed in kryptonite a thousand metres away and construe it as anti-Semitism (See my 28/11/11 post My Brush with Superman), the genuine article is thankfully rare in Australia.

So just what kind of 'offence' then does Mr Alhadeff wish to see 'proven' as an instance of racial vilification? Yes, I know that Mr Alhadeff is speaking for the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, but don't let that fool you. When it comes to such an organisation, the adjective doesn't quite do it justice. As Manny Waks, a former vice president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ), complained recently:

"The centrality of Israel in the workings of the ECAJ and other mainstream 'peak bodies', such as... the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies (JBOD), is misplaced and a waste of time and limited community resources. Local issues, some of which include aged care, social welfare, education, abuse, alcohol/drugs and social entrepreneurship, deserve the attention of groups whose imprimatur is to support the community needs of Australian Jews... True, fundraising in a difficult economic environment is enhanced by a pro-Israel focus, but apart from the diminution of community interests, the inappropriate attention to Zionist causes continues to alienate many younger Jews who question the centrality of Israel but nevertheless wish to work for Jewish renewal and continuity in their Australian community." (Community begins at home, The Australian Jewish News, 9/11/12)

Could the 'offence' Mr Alhadeff has in mind be trenchant criticism of Israel, often smeared by Zionist lobbyists as 'the new anti-Semitism' and framed as 'singling out Israel for selective condemnation and opprobrium' (See my 24/7/11 post Criminalising Criticism of Israel)? And just what changes to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act might Zionist lobbyists wish to see?

A clue may be found in a 28/8/09 paper Hate Crime & Vilification Law: Developments & Directions by Peter Wertheim, a member of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board and executive director of the ECAJ, no less.

At one point in his paper (it's up on the net), Wertheim argues that "[t]here is a strong argument to be made that public incitement of hatred on any of the prohibited grounds [race, homosexuality, HIV/Aids infection, transgender identity], of itself, entails a breach of the peace and that criminal sanctions are therefore appropriate where the incitement is intentional. Even if the incitement is not immediately accompanied by a threat of physical harm, or by an incitement of others to threaten physical harm, the incitement of the public to hatred on one of the prohibited grounds contributes to the creation of a social climate that is more conducive to the occurrence of acts or threats of physical harm to the groups that are targeted, and more conducive to social violence in general."

Mark, please, the highlighted words.

Wertheim's argument in a nutshell, if I've got him right, is that public (ie. any form of communication to the public) acts of incitement (ie. the stirring up of hatred in people) should be criminalised, without recourse to the criminal standard (ie. beyond reasonable doubt) and without having to prove a threat of physical harm towards a person or group or the incitement of others to threaten such harm, on the grounds that a vilificatory act need not be accompanied by threats or incitement to others to threaten physical harm to a person or group but "may nonetheless be perceived by the targeted person or group (and by others) - and reasonably perceived - as extremely threatening."

Mark, again, the highlighted words.

Now where would all of this, if enshrined in anti-discrimination legislation, leave those mere bagatelles, free speech and freedom of protest? Could BDS protesters one day be charged with the Kafkaesque offence of contributing to the creation of a social environment that is more conducive to the occurrence of acts or threats of physical harm to targeted groups? Could university students who stage a consciousness-raising Israeli Apartheid Awareness Week on campus be charged merely because the Australian Union of Jewish Students claims to perceive their anti-Israeli apartheid message as a threat to Jewish students?

Finally, lest you think me unduly alarmist, consider the plight of Stephen Sizer, author of Zion's Christian Soldiers? The Bible, Israel & the Church:

"Stephen Sizer has been active for many years in areas of humanitarian concern for the Palestinian population. I was with him on my recent trip to Baghdad, and I am convinced he is a good man. Stephen is a Church of England Vicar. He is under huge pressure at the moment as he is under a formal complaint from the Board of Deputies of British Jews to the Church of England on a charge of anti-Semitism. This is very serious indeed and could lead to the loss of both his job and his home. The essence of the long complaint is that he has posted links on his website to other websites which contain anti-Semitic material. It is not alleged that he has linked to material which is itself anti-Semitic; but that elsewhere on websites linked to there is such material. That may or may not be true. But in the real world, the idea that in posting a link to an article you are endorsing every other article (which in practice you cannot have seen) on a website is nonsensical and would make much current blogging practice impossible. That Stephen is not an anti-Semite and has not knowingly endorsed anti-Semitism, I have no doubt. But what worries me is the growing bravura with which all critics of Israel or supporters of the Palestinians are charged with the - rightfully - damning slur of anti-Semitism." (Defend Stephen Sizer, Graig Murray, graigmurray.org.uk, 12/1/13)

Watch this space...

Talking of Holocausts...

"The study of the Holocaust will become compulsory for all NSW school students in years 9 and 10 after a lobbying campaign by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies prompted the state government to include it in the syllabus. The chief executive of the board, Vic Alhadeff, confirmed he lobbied the Board of Studies and Department of Education for the change up until a month ago and commended them for the decision... Greens NSW MP John Kaye said the Holocaust is rightly an essential part of the state syllabus but should be taught in the context of the other 20th-century genocides." (Study of Holocaust mandated for schools, Anna Patty, Sydney Morning Herald, 8/12/12)

John Kaye is correct, of course.

But, while Zionist lobbyists like Vic Alhadeff may prattle on about the Holocaust being "a warning to every generation about the potential for evil, especially as a consequence of racial hatred, and about the inherent evil of totalitarian regimes," you can be sure that a stand-alone treatment, hopefully with an 'If only there'd been an Israel back then' spin, is the desired outcome. Certainly, any curriculum support material devised by the NSW Board of Deputies is bound to be problematic, as my 28/10/11 post Israel 101 for Cops indicates.

I wonder too if Alhadeff (and those politicians and bureaucrats who've finally* succumbed to his charms) fully appreciates the me-too logic inherent in pushing the (Jewish) Holocaust on the great unwashed. Will his learning curve, I wonder, be as steep as that of Maurice Messer's?

Maurice Messer? In case you've never met him, Maurice is the fictional chairman of the board of Holocaust Connections, Inc. in Tova Reich's wonderful 2007 satire My Holocaust:

"Unfazed , Pushkin Jones exposed his glistening teeth in a grin. 'Brother Maurice,' he declared, 'we of the United Holocausts rainbow coalition of all Holocausts, personal and global, have come here today to offer ourselves as your allies in your noble battle... against the travesty and disgrace of Holocaust denial. I am referring now to the denial of all Holocausts other than the Jewish Holocaust. We shall combat this kind of Holocaust denial unto death. I am speaking of the denial of the African-American Holocaust, for example, which I have the distinct honor and privilege of representing today, claiming our forty-acres-and-a-mule just reparations for the depredations of slavery. I am speaking, to cite yet other examples, of the denial of the Holocausts of my two chiefs of staff - Sister Honey's Women's Holocaust reflecting the confluence of fascism and misogyny, both dead-ending in violence, and the Native American Holocaust of Brother Foggy Bottom here, and, by extension, the Holocausts of all aboriginal and indigenous peoples everywhere, brutally uprooted by conquerors and colonialists and imperialists from their native soils since time immemorial, with special recognition due to the Palestinian Holocaust, a direct side effect of the monopoly by the marketers of memory of your Jewish Holocaust... This of course does not mean we exclude other Holocausts,' Jones elaborated. 'The Children's Holocaust, the Gay and Lesbian Holocaust, the Christian Holocaust, the Muslim Holocaust, the Tibetan Holocaust, and so on and so forth, all are gathered up equally under our great Holocaust tent... Nor should we neglect to make mention of the other Holocausts... past, present, and future, of nations too numerous to list, from Cambodia to Chechnya, from Russia to Rwanda, from Kosovo to Kurdistan, from Armenia to East Timor, plus Ecological and Environmental Holocausts, the impending Nuclear Holocaust, the Herbal Holocaust targeting marijuana and other fruits and vegetables, the Endangered Species Holocausts of plants and animals from bluegrass to baby seals, from bladderpods to lesser long-nosed bats, plus the personal and private Holocausts of our brothers and sisters everywhere on this earth, from Brother Kwame in the Oppenheimer diamond mines of South Africa to Sister Katya in the brothels of Tel Aviv, from Brother Unborn Fetus tossed in a Dumpster in Los Angeles County to Sister Granny set adrift on an iceberg to starve to death in the Eskimo sea, and on and on in an ancient and endless cycle of sorrow and woe. We are all survivors - cancer survivors, AIDS survivors, sexual abuse survivors, alcoholism survivors, mental illness survivors, circumcision survivors, menstruation survivors, propaganda survivors, et cetera et cetera. Move over, Brother Maurice, the neighborhood is changing, you are not alone, and you are not unique. No longer can you sit there on the ground like a tribe of Jeremiahs girded in sackcloth, covered in ashes, crying out in lamentation, Behold and see, if there be any pain like unto my pain! Your monopoly has been busted, Brother Maurice, your Holy-cause is history. We reject the hierarchy and caste system of Holocausts. All Holocausts are equal in the eye of God. No one Holocaust is superior to another, no one Holocaust is deserving of special treatment or recognition. All Holocausts are unique." (pp 243-245)

And I can just hear Vic down the track a bit:

"'Brother Pusher,' Maurice began, attempting to inject a diplomatic polish into his voice, 'I hear you, I feel your pain, I know where you're coming from, believe me. I myself started a very successful business from mine own, Holocaust Connections, Inc., mit a similar idea - sharing the moral capital from the Holocaust. But between you and me, you're barking up the wrong fire hydrant this time. The Jewish Holocaust is bigger from both of us. It's the super Holocaust, the state-sponsored systematic extermination from the Jewish people for the 'crime' of existing by the most advanced and civilized nation on earth - that's the scientific definition. There was nothing like it before or after and there never will be. Nothing can compete. You should quit while you're still ahead, you got a lost cause. Believe me, I understand how you feel. Everybody likes to think their Holocaust is the best, everybody likes to think their Holocaust is unique, but face it, the Jewish Holocaust is the most unique. So let me give you a little piece of advice from an old man who has seen a thing or two in his time, okay? Give up this crazy, childish narishkeit what you're doing, and come express yourself constructively by joining me in mine business. I'll make you a senior vice president mit complete control from the African-American Holocaust portfolio. What do you say, Pushka? Is it a deal?'" (pp 246-247)

Stay tuned.

[*See my earlier posts on this matter: Sam Lipski's National Curriculum (12/4/10) and Holocaust Studies Make the Grade (28/12/10).]

Innocents Abroad

"Four journalists who participated in the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies' Journalist Mission to Israel reported back to the community on Tuesday night." (Israel trip journos report back, The Australian Jewish News, 7/12/12)

Hm, so what exactly did these intrepid souls discover in the home of the IDF coward and the land of the unfree Palestinian?

The Daily Telegraph's national political editor, Simon Benson, who, were are informed, "received the biggest applause" from the assembled believers, presumably for such staggering revelations as this:

"The difference is that one side fires indiscriminate rockets into civilian populations with the express intent on terrorising people or killing them. The other side seeks to defend itself and makes mistakes and kills innocent civilians." (For further news of Simon's stellar career as a reporter of  every twitch of the Israeli nerve as their sun was literally blotted out by nuclear-armed Palestinian ICBMs recently, simply click on the SB label below.)

Sky News presenter Brooke Corte, mere inches from those indiscriminate Hamas rockets, took a break from being terrorised or killed by Hamas rockets just long enough to gush:

"On the bus fleeing Beersheva trying to get out of the rocket range, I logged into my Twitter and watched the propaganda war between Hamas and Israeli officials unfold in real time. To be in that situation and watch how the two sides covered that on Twitter in real time as it was happening was a truly unique experience."

Boring, but so typical of the younger generation of twitterati! For example, just compare Brooke's limp 15 November tweet - "In northern Israel today looking across Lebanon and Syria. Beautiful and yet a little close for comfort" - with the literary flair and drama of the 40-something rambamee Peter Phelps MLC's 16 July tweet: "Just peered into Gaza, now I know how Frodo felt when he first gazed upon Mordor." (See my 20/7/12 post Frodos Gaze Upon Mordor.) See what I mean?

Sydney Morning Herald's Saturday edition editor, Judith Whelan, apparently a victim of the dreaded Jerusalem syndrome, poor thing, said that "since she has returned from her trip, every dinner conversation at home with her children has focused on Israel. Whelan, who spent a lot of time reading and studying the Bible in her youth, said Israel is a unique country. 'While standing on the Mount of Olives, I looked down at the huge Jewish cemetery, down the other side a huge Christian cemetery, and then a huge Muslim cemetery. And there, on the Mount of Olives, even in death you have this immense longing for this place. It is the holiest of places for three religions. Can we be surprised that it is constantly fought over?"

Surely proof, if needed, that thinking straight is often in inverse proportion to the mind's religious clutter. (For Whelan's thankyou note to the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, see my 19/11/12 post Israel Lobbyist Asks: Why do we bother?.)

Now to the biggest of the JBoD's catch - Michael Ebeid, managing director of SBS. Young Michael, I remind you, was at the centre of the storm over SBS's decision to screen the British drama, The Promise, in November-December last year. In particular, he was assailed on the subject during a senate committee hearing by a gaggle of Israel's useful parliamentary fools (Senators Ryan, Fifield & Kroger). (See my 1/3/12 post In Senate Estimates They can't Hear You Scream.)

One would have thought that, after being forced to defend the public's basic right to watch The Promise and make up its own mind about it from a concerted and sustained attack by elements of the Israel lobby, he'd be wise to the buggers. But no, they got him in the end and packed him off to Israel for reprogramming.

A faint taste of what he'd been through with the lobby, however, can still be detected in his report-back from the experience. After first "reflect[ing] on Israel's great [!] democracy," Ebeid is quoted thus in the AJN:

"'My final general observation is that within Israel there seems to be more varied opinions and moderate views on Palestinian issues than what I've tended to see in Australia. But while I found Israelis do tend to have thick skin, often in the Diaspora community they tend to have a heightened sense of sensitivity around how Israel is portrayed here, and I think this is understandable because often the media is very black and white about how they present the issue.'"

Sad indeed.

Certainly, since the screening of The Promise nothing has appeared on this subject on SBS television that I'm aware of. Can we, therefore, conclude that Ebeid's rambamming was successful? The only other evidence we have that this may be the case comes from his tweets, which, I'm sorry to say, are hardly encouraging:

On 14 November he saw fit to retweet this typically thuggish threat from IDFSpokesperson: "We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead."

On the same day he tweeted: "Here is a great report by @simonbenson who I was with today in Sderot near Gaza." Simon Benson, for God's sake!

On 16 November he tweeted: "Being in Israel [this] week has reaffirmed my high respect for journalists who travel the world's hot spots to bring us the news." Of the heat in Gaza - nothing!

On 17 November he breaks into fluent Israeli with: "A video explaining the tactics Hamas terrorist group uses in Gaza. Sadly Palestinian people caught in the middle."

Finally, on 18 November, a killer tweet which reveals Ebeid's essential shallowness like no other: "Over Israel vs Hamas? Then switch over to SBSTWO at 11pm for Brazil vs Spain Futsal WC Final."

Fair dinkum, it's enough to make you weep.

Baruch O'Farrell

At a pre-Chanukah function at the NSW Knesset last month, Premier Barry O'Farrell told the assembled worthies of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies and pollywaffles from both sides of the Knesset that the Hebrew word baruch, which means 'blessed', is "the first word you will hear when the menorah is lit."

He then went on, or so the Australian Jewish News reports, to inform his audience that "baruch... is Hebrew for Barry," and joked that it "has a wonderful ring to it because it means I'm blessed." (Barry's our 'blessed Premier, 16/11/12)

Blessed indeed are the people of NSW to have Baruch O'Farrell, as he will henceforth be referred to in this blog, presiding over the affairs of their state.

And blessed too are the fish of the sea, the fowl of the air and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth because Baruch O'Farrell has given the Shooters & Fishers Party dominion over them (or at least those in NSW national parks and coastal waters) to protect and - ahem - conserve, much as Lord Balfour of yore gave Chaim Weizmann's Zionist Organisation dominion over Palestine, "it... ahem... being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the non-Jewish communities" there.

So please join with me in congratulating Baruch O'Farrell on the occasion of the presentation to him, by The Zionist Council of NSW, The Zionist Federation of Australia and The World Zionist Organisation, of The Jerusalem Prize, a truly blessed event scheduled to take place in Sydney on December 10.