Balanced policy the only way to peace

by Malcolm Fraser

The Age
10 May 2008
___________________________________________________

TWO months ago, the Australian Parliament passed a resolution celebrating
Israel's first 60 years. Until recently, Australia had preserved a balance
in Middle East policy that asserted Israel's right to survival and security,
but also the right of the Palestinian people to their own state. Under the
previous government, in lock-step with the US, our policies veered to a more
one-sided support for Israel. The vision of a Palestinian state seemed to
slip from view.

US President George Bush claims that it is possible for Israel and
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate the establishment of a
Palestinian state before the end of this year. That ignores the realities of
the current situation, which Bush has done a good deal to exacerbate.

It is a fact that Israel has persistently established more and more
settlements on the West Bank and that it has ignored the US and the UN
Security Council, which have continuously branded these settlements,
together with settlements in East Jerusalem, as illegal. However, the US has
not exerted real pressure to stop them and the process continues. Through
most of my life I have believed that Israel was a beacon of hope. But
somewhere Israel's leadership lost its way.

Since the start of the war on terror, US policies have become increasingly
unrealistic, branding people as terrorists to be beaten with guns.

In Bush's world, discussion or negotiation with those who are labelled as
terrorists is unthinkable, and indeed would be a betrayal of American
values. Yet he should recall what earlier US presidents did in negotiating
with leaders of the Soviet Union. Those presidents avoided nuclear war and
won the Cold War. Britain achieved peace in Northern Ireland with similar
policies.

Failure to talk with an opponent or with an enemy is perhaps the major
mistake of the Bush Administration. A mistake that has made many parts of
the world more dangerous. Hamas won a legitimate election in early 2006. Aid
workers on the ground in Palestine knew that Hamas would win because Hamas
helps local people while Fatah, corrupt and inefficient, did not. The West
claimed to be surprised at Hamas' victory. It betrayed its own principles by
making it plain that democracy was only acceptable if it gave the kind of
result that Israel and the US wanted.

It would have been possible to say to Hamas: a number of your policies must
change but we welcome your participation in the democratic process and we
are therefore prepared to talk and explore possible areas of agreement. This
approach would have given Hamas an alternative to violence and the
possibility of a different future.

When a joint Hamas-Fatah government was formed, it was short-lived. Both
Israel and the US sought to undermine it and encouraged Abbas to pursue a
policy that would diminish or destroy Hamas. In this regard, Israel and the
US have played a major part in the continued divisions among the Palestinian
people themselves.

I know there are those who would say that Hamas cannot be believed. No
agreement would be sustainable because it wants the total destruction of
Israel. However, those who hold such views commit themselves in effect to
continued warfare. If this situation prevails, Israel will lose more and
more friends and will place its own future in danger.

Terrorism must, of course, be condemned but if one measures the loss of life
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is clear that the scales are heavily
balanced against the Palestinians. The tactics used by Hamas are inefficient
as a weapon of war, almost futile, but they have extracted a
disproportionate response.

If there is to be any progress, in addition to talking to Hamas it is
critical to heal the divisions between Hamas and Fatah. No arrangement
between Israel and Abbas will be acceptable unless the divisions among
Palestinian people are addressed. But Israeli and American policy is still
focused on perpetuating those divisions, breeding more hatred and bitterness
and making a secure future even more remote.

Former US president Jimmy Carter has recently held discussions in the Middle
East with many of those with whom Bush will not speak. He has attracted a
great deal of criticism from many quarters, including the Israeli lobby.
However, his efforts are to be applauded because he recognises that talking
to Hamas is essential for progress.

Hamas has supported a ceasefire. But this was rejected out of hand as a
subterfuge for gaining time to reorganise and rearm. Hamas has said that if
Abbas can negotiate a solution and if that is endorsed in a referendum by
the Palestinians, it will support it, provided that there is reconciliation
among Palestinians.

What then should be done? The principles endorsed by the Baker-Hamilton
report in relation to Iraq must be adopted in regard to the Palestinian case
as well. There must be talks leading to negotiations involving all the
players including Hamas. Progress will not be quick, it could be months and
possibly years, but a ceasefire, even initially for a limited period, would
be a good start. The ending of the blockade of Gaza and the cessation of new
settlements in the West Bank would be a prerequisite. In addition, the
adjudication of boundaries of Israel and Palestine would be critical to a
final settlement.

Against this modern-day tragedy, it is important for countries such as
Australia to be even-handed. That is why I support the appeal for the
Australian Parliament to pass a resolution recognising the hardships of the
Palestinian people and committing Australia to work for a fair and peaceful
resolution and the establishment of a viable independent state for
Palestinians.
_____________________________________________________________________
Malcolm Fraser is a former prime minister of Australia.


Web link
http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/balanced-policy-the-only-way-to-peace/2008/05/09/1210131260171.html

New Prospects for Nation Building?hursday, June 26, 2008

So, what? Public lectures in contemporary humanities and social sciences
SO.What@UNSW.EDU.AU
WWW.ARTS.UNSW.EDU.AU
Please join us for the next lecture in the UNSW Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences series.
We are pleased to present Professor Michael Pusey
School of Social Sciences and International Studies

Introduction by Bruce Petty
Has economic ‘reform’ run its course? What potential remains for constructive nation building?
Contrary to expectations Canberra emerges from twenty years of free market ‘economic rationalism’ with disciplined government, ample revenues, an effective regulative apparatus and — perhaps — the capacity for government to steer the economy towards a brighter future. For a quarter of a century neo-liberal politics has made the people serve the economy. Can we recover the political capacity, the clear-sightedness, and the will to again make the economy serve the people? We face three crucial challenges. We must deal with climate change, re-build our rotting infrastructure and
fix federal state relations. Are we up to it? Can our history of nation-building come to the rescue of our future?

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008
Time: Cocktail reception from 6.00 pm
Lecture from 6.30 - 7.30 pm
Location: Tyree Room, John Niland Scientia Building, UNSW
RSVP: so.what@unsw.edu.au (numbers are limited)
Null Doro
After completing his doctoral studies in sociology at Harvard University Michael worked with the Schools Commission and at the Australian National University. Over the last thirty years at UNSW he has taught on social theory, the media and the public sphere, economic ideas, and, most recently on quality of life in Australia. Michael is a Professor of Sociology at UNSW
and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia. His writings and media commentary on economic reform and on the changing Australian middle class are extensive, including two highly influential and prize winning books,
Economic Rationalism in Canberra and The Experience of Middle Class Australia.
From 1995 to 2002 Michael was the Director of the Middle Australia Project. Michael is currently working with Paul Jones

Sydney to honour the Stolen Generations

MEDIA RELEASE

Busy weekday traffic will come to a standstill on Monday 26 May 2008 when hundreds of members of the Stolen Generations, their families and supporters march through the streets of Sydney. The City of Sydney and the NSW Police Service have given their full support to this public event, which commemorates the 10th Anniversary of Sorry Day and the historic apology of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The event, which is being organised by the NSW Sorry Day Committee, will commence at 10:30am from Hyde Park (Northern end) and proceed down Macquarie Street. There will be a flag raising ceremony at Parliament House before the march proceeds to Circular Quay and onto First Fleet Park where there will be entertainment, speakers and refreshments.

NSW Sorry Day Committee Chairperson and Stolen Generations member Marie Melito-Russell said:

We hope this march will raise awareness about the issues that continue to affect members of the Stolen Generations. The Prime Minister’s apology was an important step in our healing, but this must be followed with reparations. We want justice and the same basic human rights that apply to others in our society. We invite all those that were affected by the removals policies to join us in solidarity and ask all Australians to walk with us in unity for a better future for all people.


Interviews with members of the Stolen Generations will be available upon request. For further information please contact NSW Sorry Day Committee on 02 9319 1034