Australia's subtle policy shift on Israel

[shaayecanaan]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/rudds-subtle-israel-shift/2008/08/02/1217097606466.html

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Rudd continued to work the press gallery tirelessly. On one occasion, in July 2004, Rudd was on the phone constantly. He was in a complete lather and the issue was Israel. That was when Australia was one of just six countries to vote against a United Nations resolution demanding Israel dismantle its notorious security barrier - the wall around the West Bank that, while making life a misery for Palestinians, has done much to thwart suicide bombings.

The UN held the non-binding vote after the International Court of Justice ruled a section of the structure had been built on Palestinian land.

The five other "no" votes came from Israel, the US, Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau.

One hundred and fifty other countries voted "yes".

Rudd was telling anyone who'd listen that Australia's position was shameful. The government, aware of this, did some rearguard briefing of its own telling journalists that not only could Labor not be trusted to manage the precious bilateral relationship with the US, but it would also mishandle Australia's "special friendship" with Israel.

Certainly Australian and Israeli Jews regarded John Howard as a great friend. When I visited Israel with Alexander Downer this time last year, the foreign minister was feted like a rock star. Even Downer seemed to blush at the incredible platitudes awarded to him during dinner at Jerusalem's King David Hotel.

I certainly blushed at that last statement - rock star my arse. Downer can barely command respect from his own party room, let alone Israel.