A few days ago, I was rude enough to write to the Australian Government over the holiday period. What’s more, my email was not about cricket.
Israel rains death from the air in Gaza (Photo from Friends of the Earth Palestine)
This kind of behaviour is not encouraged down under.
It makes work for public servants when they’d rather be on the beach, like their Ministers. It may be taken as an indication of seditious intent.
Even so, in the circumstances, I thought I’d take the risk…
Here’s my email:
From: Syd Walker [mailto:......@sydwalker.info]
Sent: Monday, 29 December 2008 9:27 AM
To: Smith, Stephen (MP)
Subject: Please act now to stop Israeli mass murder!
Dear Minister
I am writing to urge you to take IMMEDIATE action to demand that Israel stops the massacre in Gaza.
There must be an immediate ceasefire. Israel is reponsible for the mass murder and must stop, forthwith.
The statistics quoted by the Israeli Human Rights group B’Tselem are a month old, but give a general overview of the killing on both ‘sides’ in Palestine/Israel. I urge you to take a look.
Some 130 Israelis were killed by Palestinians between 29.9.2000-30.11.2008, the great majority being members of the armed forces. By contrast, in the same period close to 3,000 Palestinains were killed by Israelis. The ‘kill ratio’ of Palestinian:Israeli children in the hostilities is 158:1
When will the Australian Government have the decency and honesty to mention this?
I implore you to put the firmest imaginable pressure on the Israeli State to stop the carnage now.
Regards
Syd Walker
Address…
__________________________________
The first reply was not encouraging (but at least the Foriegn Affairs autoresponder has typos too!):
This Office is cuurently closed for the Christmas New Year break. The Office reopens on Monday 5 January 2009.
If your email relates to a Foreign Affairs portfolio matter and it is urgent, please telephone the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade Consular Operations Centre on (02) 6261 3305 or Toll-Free on 1300 555 135. Both are available 24 hours per day.
For general passport enquiries, you can telephone the Australian Passport Information Service on 13 12 32, again available 24 hours per day.
Stephen Smith MP
Member for Perth
But today there’s an update! (emphases added)
Dear Mr Walker
Thank you for your email expressing your concern about recent events in Gaza. The Minister has asked me to respond on his behalf.
The Australian Government is deeply disturbed by the resumption of violence and is greatly saddened by the tragic loss of life in recent days.
The Government strongly condemn the firing of rockets and mortars into southern Israel by Hamas and other militant groups.
While recognising Israel’s right to defend itself from such indiscriminate attacks, the Government urges both Israel and Hamas to make every effort to avoid causing suffering to innocent civilians. It is important that Israel meets its humanitarian obligations to ensure the people of the Gaza Strip have access to basic necessities and humanitarian assistance.
The current situation highlights that a lasting resolution to the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank can only be brought about through peaceful means as set out by the Roadmap for Peace.
On 28 October, Mr Smith announced a $10 million package of assistance for emergency food assistance in Gaza and support for Palestinian reform efforts. This forms part of Australia’s $45 million in assistance to the Palestinian people in 2008.
I thank you for bring your views to the Minister’s attention.
Kind Regards,
xxx xxxx
Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs
Gaza Destruction (Photo from Friends of the Earth Palestine)
Note who is ‘stongly condemned’ and who isn’t. Apparently the Australian Government has the same bigoted view of the ‘kill-ratio‘ and warped view of recent history as the Israeli Government itself.
In my follow-up email, I may be even meaner and include photos. I think I’ll ask about Australia’s ‘aid’ program too. Did we spend big on Gaza’s University, just blown to smithereens by Israel? Is it like a fund to give the Israelis target practice?
Ah. And the ‘Road Map for Peace’. I must ask about that too. Is the Government joking?
Perhaps the job of writing this latest letter was outsourced to Tel Aviv?
I wonder also if the same letter is sent out to Zionists writing to complain that Australia isn’t supporting Israel enough Could there be another version, even more biased towards the occupier and aggressor?
I could run a test. What might a real Zionist say?
Here’s a few insights.
