Letters, April 29, 2011
NIF misguided but not anti-Zionist
THE article “New Israel Fund (NIF) set for Australia” (AJN 22/04) states that “the NIF has come under fire from Professor Gerald Steinberg’s NGO Monitor, among others, for supporting organisations that advocate boycotts of Israeli products. Prof Steinberg has insinuated the NIF is anti-Zionist.”
The allegation regarding the insinuation is totally false. NGO Monitor is an independent research organisation and while our research demonstrates the sharp contrast between NIF’s claims and its funding policies, I have never characterised NIF or its officials, such as Naomi Chazan, as anti-Zionist. Instead, their funding of political groups that promote boycotts, divestment and sanctions, demonisation and the discredited Goldstone Reports suggested that these NIF officials are severely misguided.
However, NIF has recently agreed to adopt NGO Monitor’s funding guidelines. If this promise is actually implemented (and no evidence has yet been provided), these guidelines would restore the NIF’s severelydamaged reputation.
Prof Gerald steinberg
President, NGO Monitor
Reaction to NIF is divisive in itself
HOW amazing to see Michael Burd implore the Progressive Jewish movement “not to be divisive and be sensitive towards the majority of Australian Jews”, and cancel the proposed visit by Israeli “left-wing activist”, Naomi Chazan (AJN 15/04). If only Mr Burd could extend his new found love for political correctness to himself and other right-wing activists, although somehow I doubt it will happen.
Henry Herzog
St Kilda East, Vic
Giving Chazan the respect she deserves
I WRITE in response to Michael Burd’s letter (AJN 15/04) protesting in anticipation a proposed visit by former Knesset Speaker, Naomi Chazan.
For those, like myself, who have had the pleasure and indeed honour of listening to Professor Chazan, she is an erudite speaker who at all times has recognised the difference between debate within Israel on issues of policy, and speaking for Israel recognising that there is but one house of Israel, when overseas.
I am not a supporter of the New Israel Fund. It distributes money to some groups to whom I would not want my donations given. That does not however mean that Prof Chazan should not be heard.
It is vitally important that our community recognise the difference between those who would tear down the house of Israel and those who, for the love of the Jewish people, engage in honest and open discourse about what is the best way forward for the house of Israel. Prof Chazan clearly falls within the latter group.
David D Knoll AM
Coogee, NSW
Why are NSW Greens picking on Israel?
AFTER the NSW Greens explain why they would refuse to use Israeli technology to save our environment, next they can explain why the only country in the entire world that they want to divest from is an egalitarian liberal democracy whose laws protect the human rights of even its worst enemies. Not Burma, Libya, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, the Congo, China, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea, Sudan and a host of other nations that persecute their own and/or their neighbours’ peoples.
Judith Rona
Bondi, NSW
Stonnington school ruling is outrageous
I RECENTLY opened wonderful new facilities at Shelford Girls School, in my electorate, and Lauriston in Stonnington, where I represented the Prime Minister.
No petty local council decisions have opposed these fine schools’ use of Canberra’s Building Education Revolution (BER) funds for the general benefit of the community. The activities of the Stonnington Council in aiding and abetting opposition to the legitimate use of The King David School’s new, federal Government funded facilities (AJN 15/04) is simply outrageous.
The Stonnington Council and those councillors backing this discriminatory treatment of The King David School need to be held to account for their actions.
Whether you are involved in The King David School or not, it is certainly against the public interest that school parents, administration, and special guests should not be permitted to use the facilities of the school during business hours, without the prior written consent of the Stonnington Council itself.
Stonnington Council is lucky that I am not the local federal member. As they used to say in the Old West: “ I’d run these bums out of town.”
Michael Danby
Federal Member for Melbourne Ports
Goldstone revealed both sides’ bias
THE most heinous crime of Richard Goldstone was that he took the wrong side in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Or at least it was made to look that way by spokesmen for both sides, all pushing their own propaganda barrows.
To Israelis and Jews generally, Goldstone simply stepped out of line and as a result became a self-hating Jew, an objective supporter of anti-Israel violence.
To supporters of the Palestinian cause, Goldstone only proved what they had been saying all along – that Palestinians were victims, never perpetrators, despite the ceaseless rain of missiles on Israel from Gaza or atrocities like Itamar.
It’s an almost impossible ask, but is it not high time for the propaganda fog to be dispelled? Does revenge always have to be the chief motivator in Middle-East politics?
Steve Brook
Elwood, Vic
No longer deserving the title of Justice
THERE have been millions of words written about the Goldstone Report. I have always felt that the title “Justice” is endorsed by acknowledging a person of the highest moral and ethical standards as well as a sense of fairness.
I would like to see Richard Goldstone show humility and redeem himself by henceforth becoming known as Richard Goldstone. Justice has to be seen to be done.
Zara Moskow
St Ives, NSW