Comments on: No rainbow’s end for the Jews of Oz

By: Liat Kirby

Liat Kirby — Mon, 30 May 2022 09:31:13 +0000

Australian Jews will never be anything like US Democrat Jews, Michael. They’re worlds apart, most especially in regard to how they view Israel. And the problem with your assessment is in its generality, speaking of everyone in terms of category and assuming their priorities.
The Australian people voted thoughtfully on the 21st May, being rightfully untrusting of both major parties. Insofar as Australian Jewish votes are concerned, it is surely right to think that we are voting for an Australian government, not an Israeli one. I for one would prefer any Australian government to support Israel categorically and in every way possible, but I will not support the kind of government the coalition had become. It’s not in Australia’s interest to do that.
Unfortunately for Josh Frydenberg, his avid support for someone of Scott Morrison’s ilk was such that it affected his own seat. Also, unfortunately, he only speaks rhetoric – the consummate politician. Morrison and the politics the Liberals played out on all sorts of issues that should not have been politicised has seen the demise of a party and its values that will take a long time to recover from. Lies, smugness and arrogance lost the day. I will miss Dave Sharma, a fine man, a straight-talking man and someone who staunchly defended Israel and told the truth a lot of the time.

Perhaps give people the benefit of their own individuality instead of name-calling and categorising. . Melanie Phillips wasn’t writing about Australian politics or Albanese; she was projecting research data onto an unknown quantity. She should come here to do her homework.

By: Adrian Jackson

Adrian Jackson — Mon, 30 May 2022 08:14:39 +0000

In reply to Lynne Newington. Nits should be picked (on).

By: Lynne Newington

Lynne Newington — Sun, 29 May 2022 02:42:07 +0000

In reply to Adrian Jackson. Talk about nit picking, you're worse than those contributing to The Conversation and all brothers!

By: Liat Kirby

Liat Kirby — Sat, 28 May 2022 05:37:23 +0000

Melanie Philips, I am an admirer of much of what you write, however, your article here on Australian politics, the Labor Party in particular, shows no real knowledge of your subject matter. Instead you have extrapolated out your knowledge of Jeremy Corbyn and England’s Labour Party and the US Democrats to connect and land solidly with Anthony Albanese and the ALP. It misses the mark completely.

Albanese ‘is rooted in radical socialism’! No, Albanese, who came from a poor working-class background, is rooted in the reality that provides understanding of the real necessity of making life more fair and equitable for people who are underprivileged. He actually cares about this. As any politician, he will have to compromise in many ways to deliver good, sound government. He certainly would wish to remain independent of the Greens, who are a far bigger threat to Israel in their thinking than the ALP. Anthony Albanese is a decent man who believes in fair and orderly government. Nothing like the picture you have painted.

I am as much as you, against the burgeoning left-wing intelligentsia and all that that represents. Albanese is not part of that. It’s true the Liberal coalition government in Australia is a more direct and consistent supporter of Israel in a way, we as Jews, prefer. However, as an Australian the vote for government must be cast on the worth of government in and for Australia, and the Morrison coalition was not worthy of that. There is great relief from all kinds of people that this 9 year Liberal reign is over, where lies and deception, financial rorts and lack of inhumanity made terrible inroads into our democracy.
Our Jewish organisations here will have to work hard to push Jewish perspective and needs onto the ALP and protest strongly if we think political thinking re Israel is going awry. Certainly, that is so.

If you write about another country’s politics, you need to do your homework and make your comments singularly apt.

By: Michael burd

Michael burd — Sat, 28 May 2022 04:07:30 +0000

Unfortunately Melanie has hit a nerve with Australian Jews particularly Progressive left who would have voted for the most Left wing ,anti Zionist Cabal in Australian History . Of course these Jews will deny just as an alcoholic will deny they are an alcoholic or a drug addict denying they are addicts . Australian jews are following American Democrat Jews who equally prioritise all this Climate Crap , Gender Identity and all the other Leftist Woke ideology way before the safety and well being of Israel as the National state of the Jews and Jewish Human rights It is sad these Jews Join anti semites, anti Zionists, Socialists marxists in ousting the likes of Frydenberg and Sharma and welcoming in such a Left wing Coalition including so many single issue Extremists and anti Semitic Greens .

By: Doodie Ringelblum

Doodie Ringelblum — Sat, 28 May 2022 03:09:07 +0000

I am very curious why these two sentences are juxtaposed:

‘Albanese has a history of anti-Israel positions. He has declared himself a “strong advocate of justice for Palestinians”.’

Does the author feel that the latter is evidence of the former?

By: J-Wire

J-Wire — Fri, 27 May 2022 22:34:39 +0000

In reply to robert grynberg. Editor: J-Wire has changed "Labour" to its correct spelling and advised the writer.

By: Adrian Jackson

Adrian Jackson — Fri, 27 May 2022 11:36:22 +0000

In Australia the ALP spell the word Labor without a “u”. Ms Phillips the people of Australia have spoken with a big vote for a ALP and anything you say is irrelevant to Australians. Ms Phillips do you live in Australia or New Zealand or are you one of those Americans who seem to have much coverage in J-Wire after Israeli commentators rightfully. Ms Phillips Australia is not part of the USA and nor do we want to be.

By: robert grynberg

robert grynberg — Fri, 27 May 2022 07:22:52 +0000

nothing surprising from the pen of ms.Phillips plenty of exaggerations and distortions amongst some truisms .But to call the party the LABOUR party when since 1912 it has been LABOR[exclusively} suggests that ms.Phillips should confine her comments to Britain and not just feed of the Murdoch press here