An explanation of ICC’s role in calling for arrest warrants issued to Israeli leaders
May 22, 2024 by Peter Wertheim
Many people may be wondering how the International Criminal Court (ICC) can have jurisdiction over Israeli political leaders when Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty under which the ICC is constituted…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
The Victorian ALP conference
June 19, 2023 by Peter Wertheim
The Victorian ALP Branch resolution over the weekend was all about politics, not principle…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
Peter Wertheim: Nazi symbols ban a step in the right direction
June 13, 2023 by Peter Wertheim
Federal Attorney General Mark Dreyfus will shortly introduce to the parliament The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill. Read more
Australian Jewish community looks to the future
May 25, 2022 by Peter Wertheim
For the last three years the Australian Jewish community has enjoyed unprecedented support and understanding from the Australian government, led by Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on matters concerning Israel and domestic policy. Read more
Jewish voters face stark choices
May 17, 2022 by Peter Wertheim
As reported on J-Wire, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) last month sent out questionnaires to the major parties and to individual candidates in the Federal seats of Wentworth, Macnamara, Goldstein and Kingsford Smith, with high percentages of Jewish voters, to gauge their policies and attitudes on issues of particular concern to the Jewish community, ahead of the May 21 election. Read more
In memory of Yitzak Rabin
November 5, 2020 by Peter Wertheim
Yitzhak Rabin was one of the giants of the cause of Zionism and the State of Israel…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
Leifer extradition delay
May 28, 2019 by Peter Wertheim
The ongoing significant delay in extraditing accused pedophile, Malka Leifer, from Israel to Australia to face 74 charges involving allegations that she sexually abused at least eight pupils during her time as principal of the Adass Israel school in Melbourne between 2003 and 2008, is causing growing dismay across the Australian Jewish community. Read more
Bob Hawke
May 17, 2019 by Peter Wertheim
Bob Hawke was one of the giants of Australian public life. Read more
Australians do support recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
November 12, 2018 by Peter Wertheim
The brouhaha that followed the federal government’s announcement that Australia will consider moving Australia’s Israeli embassy to Jerusalem continues to sputter along…writes Peter Wertheimer. Read more
Orchestrated chaos: Palestinian rejectionism again proves its futility
May 25, 2018 by Peter Wertheim
Events at the Israel-Gaza security barrier on May 15 followed what has become an all too predictable pattern…Hamas starts a confrontation with Israel; Israel defends itself; the world condemns Israel…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
Why the ABC should apologise for its Good Friday interview of Rev Dr Stephen Sizer
April 11, 2018 by Peter Wertheim
For centuries, Easter Holy Week was an occasion for incendiary sermons and outbreaks of mob violence against Jewish communities throughout Europe…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
Should the US cut aid to the Palestinians?…asks Peter Wertheim
January 25, 2018 by Peter Wertheim
The US government recently announced that it will reduce its funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which provides aid to Palestinians, to $125 million per annum, down by $60 million. It accuses UNRWA of having close connections to Hamas and its racist, rejectionist ideology towards Jews and Israel, and of perpetuating rather than resolving the problem of Palestinian statelessness.[1] Read more
Resolution 242 remains basis for peace
November 23, 2017 by Peter Wertheim
November 22 marked the 50th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 242, unanimously adopted after much negotiation, which laid down principles for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. The resolution was born out of the Arab-Israel war of June 1967 and can only be understood in that context. Read more
Bob Carr, Theodor Meron: settlements and recognition
July 17, 2017 by Peter Wertheim
Former Australian Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, has on several occasions cited the well-known opinion of Theodor Meron to Israel’s Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in September 1967, when Mr Meron (now Judge Meron) was Legal Adviser to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which he concluded that “civilian settlement in the administered territories contravenes explicit provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention”. Read more
A politically-guided tour
October 18, 2015 by Peter Wertheim
An article featuring Israel and the West Bank entitled “Hope in a Divided Country” by Sandra Hall appeared in the “Traveller” section of Sydney’s Weekend Herald and Melbourne’s The Saturday Age (October 17-18): http://www.traveller.com.au/on-tour-in-israel-and-palestine-beyond-the-borders-gk49lk. Read more
Lynch’s Supporters Dig Him into a Deeper Hole
March 30, 2015 by Peter Wertheim
Nick Riemer’s apologia for the conduct of his colleague, Jake Lynch, during the disruption by protesters of a lecture by Colonel Richard Kemp at the University of Sydney on March 11 (Why Jake Lynch was waving money around at an anti-Israel protest, March 25) only digs Lynch into a deeper hole. Read more
Wertheim responds to Adelaide article
May 29, 2014 by Peter Wertheim
“Peter Goers’ column in last week’s Sunday Mail titled “Why I weep: the 720km wall, a symbol of apartheid” appeals to the emotions, and to outdated anti-Jewish religious motifs, but ignores the facts” wrote ECAJ executive director Peter Wertheim. Read more
Law against racial vilification steeped in Australian history…writes Peter Wertheim
December 19, 2013 by Peter Wertheim
Those who would dismiss Australia’s laws prohibiting racial vilification as a mere concession to latter-day political correctness and ‘the culture of complaint’ should remember that such laws were called for by a distinguished Supreme Court judge as far back as 1949. Read more
Carr in Error on Settlements…writes Peter Wertheim
August 14, 2013 by Peter Wertheim
It was disappointing to hear Foreign Minister Bob Carr repeat an erroneous assertion he has made once before. Speaking on August 8 at Eid celebrations in Sydney to end the Muslim festival of Ramadan, Carr told a crowd outside Lakemba mosque in western Sydney that “all Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are illegal under international law and should cease. Read more
Good news and Bad from Joint Australian and UK Ministers’ Meeting…writes Peter Wertheim
January 21, 2013 by Peter Wertheim
For those unfamiliar with diplomatic-speak, AUKMIN (Australia-UK Ministerial Consultations) is the annual day-long summit between the Foreign and Defence Ministers of Australia and the UK. This year’s summit was held in Perth on Friday, January 18. Read more
Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha-azmaut – an Australian memoir
April 25, 2012 by Peter Wertheim
Israel has long been my preferred destination for overseas travel, and not merely because of the large number of my family members who live in different parts of the country. I just enjoy being there…writes Peter Wertheim. Read more
Is Cyber Racism an Untameable Beast?
November 17, 2010 by Peter Wertheim
‘Cyber racism’ refers to material published on the internet which is freely accessible and vilifies or harasses a person or group of persons because of their actual or presumed colour, nationality, descent or ethnic, ethno-religious or national origin. Read more