- Thinking About It by Zee Feed
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- We don't have to help.
Israel is starving Gazans to death. Actually, that’s not quite right: Israel has been and continues to starve Gazans to death. You and I know this well. But for whatever reason, this week in particular the harrowing images seem to have sparked a change in some major media outlets (in Aus and around the world), some governments, and a lot of other people. I’m hearing a lot more conversation and seeing a lot more posts about how abhorrent Israel’s actions are.
Look, after 600 days, a lot of these people are late to speak up but I think we need to resist the urge to chastise. Subscribers to this newsletter and those of you who read Zee Feed generally have known since October 2023 that we are witnessing a genocide. It’s our job to encourage those conversations and get important information into them.
In particular, there is one political line I hear repeated by well-meaning people that I think we can push back on.
“There is nothing Australian can do”
This is an excuse used by the Anthony Albanese and his Labor government for their decision to stand by Israel while it does whatever it wants.
Even though prime minister put out his “strongest statement yet” on Friday, which called for “Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law”, that’s not really what he or the government thinks.
They revealed their true stance in a ‘background’ email sent to journalists on Wednesday after the Labor party punished Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi for holding up a sign in parliament calling for sanctions on Israel.
The email said: “Australians are understandably distressed by the ongoing violence, including the deaths of so many innocent civilians — but they also know that Australia is not responsible for what is happening in the Middle East.”
I can accept the argument that Australia alone doesn’t have the power or influence to stop Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government. But just because we can’t single-handedly stop the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, that does not mean we have to help Israel do it.
And the Australian government is actively helping Israel. Here are just two ways:
The Albanese government vetted and signed off on a contract for Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems, awarding it $900m to produce turrets for Australian army vehicles. Elbit was founded by the Israel Defence Force in 1966. Since its creation has made weaponry for the IDF to use against Palestinians and surveillance technology used in the West Bank – making it an essential component of the genocide and apartheid of Palestinians.
For the past 12 months the Australian government denied being involved in the $900m Elbit contract, until documents released this month under Freedom of Information laws revealed they indeed knew about it and signed it.The Albanese government chose not to formally recognise the state of Palestine throughout its entire first term. The recognition of Palestine is actually ALP policy and it was a policy promise made during the 2022 election campaign. Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have repeatedly said that “Australia supports a two-state solution” (including in Friday’s statement).
The recognition of a Palestinian state is a symbolic show of support, but also increases the legal and political leverage for Palestinians. As reported in DW, with state status: “Israeli occupation or annexation of Palestinian territory would become a more serious legal issue. ‘[It] would set the ground for permanent status negotiations between Israel and Palestine, not as a set of concessions between the occupier and the occupied, but between two entities that are equal in the eyes of international law’.”
By not recognising Palestine, Australia helps Israel maintain the status quo.
There is pressure coming from within the Labor party for the government to do more for Palestinians now – including making these two changes.
So when you hear the line that “there’s not a lot Australia can do” to bring peace to Palestine, know it’s not true. We are currently helping Israel’s destruction. The very least we could do is stop. We don’t have to help.
Smart stuff on the Internet 💭
All the stuff I found on the web that made me think, smile, or have an ‘aha!’ moment. Spend your Sunday reading them – you'll be better off for it:
Are cost-of-living pressures and streaming platform algorithms killing Australian music? on SBS
I had a blast listening to the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs yesterday. This article is a solid overview of all the issues that have Australian music in a crisis state. Will be tackling some of these topics on Zee Feed soon, but for now: “‘Nobody does more for Australian music than Triple J,’ [Caitlin Welsh] said. ‘The ones who are letting down Australian music are the commercial stations … There has been zero accountability for commercial radio formats to meet their local music quotas.’”
I Miss Actually Owning Stuff on What We Lost substack
“When you bought a DVD, or a record, or a CD, or a game, your access to said content wasn't time-limited, or subject to the whims of a third-party. Nor, for that matter, could that third-party retrospectively edit that content. It was yours. You, for all intents and purposes, owned it … If we want to restore the concept of ownership to its original meaning, it's up to us.”
The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway on Wired
“In 2023, Tuvalu and Australia signed the Falepili Union Treaty, an agreement that provides for a migration scheme that will allow 280 Tuvaluans per year to settle in Australia as permanent residents. The visas will be allocated through a ballot system and will grant beneficiaries the same health, education, housing, and employment rights enjoyed by Australian citizens. In addition, Tuvaluans will retain the ability to return to their home country if conditions permit.”
How to Form Community at Work By Joining a Union on Teen Vogue
Do you work in an industry with a union? If so, you should join! "Sometimes when I'm talking with my coworkers, I don't want to bring the vibe down. Or you're at work, you don't want to make people feel uncomfortable. So it just became a safe space to really vent about the weird dynamics at work or the issues that we all see are happening, but are afraid to talk about.”