Reflection
How things can change.
Just two weeks ago we were praising the Labor Party in this column for its legislation banning the public display and sale of two prominent Nazi symbols and the consultative process that led to the bill.
This week, we despair at the motion passed at the Victorian Labor conference calling on the federal Labor government to recognise the state of Palestine in the current parliamentary term. Granted, this was the decision of the Victorian ALP conference and not the federal parliamentary party who we praised just two weeks ago. But pressure will no doubt come to bear at federal Labor’s conference in August for this folly, which helps no one besides serving sectional ideological interests, to be enshrined in the party’s platform. We dearly hope, for the sake of peace, that does not happen.
How things can change!
Just one week ago, we spoke (perhaps too) optimistically here about a potential light at the end of the tunnel in Israel’s judicial overhaul debate. But far from any kind of deal, events in the last week now see the sides further apart than ever before.
Amid a shattering of trust on all sides, the Netanyahu coalition is moving forward with parts of its overhaul, meaning negotiations are now unlikely to continue while mass protests are set to ignite once again.
It is some consolation that here in little Australia, we proved that differing opinions vis-a-vis Israel can be debated respectfully when members of our community of all political stripes and religious affiliations came together in Melbourne for the Kol Ha’am consultation on Sunday.
And to end on a high note:
Young AFL gun Harry Sheezel was an absolute mensch when dealing with antisemitic slurs upon being drafted in the top 10 by North Melbourne last year.
The wonderful maturity he showed then was a preview to the fantastic role model he is becoming.
Since then he has made his debut, played 14 games and is arguably on track to be in the running for the league’s Rising Star Award.
And at the AJAX President’s Lunch on the weekend he proved he is still a mensch, and one with a bright future to boot.
At least that hasn’t changed.
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