Kerryn Williams
"Australia's vote in the United Nations against the world court ruling that the so-called 'security barrier' in Israeli-occupied Palestine is illegal is a shameful act", said Lisa Macdonald, national co-convenor of the Socialist Alliance and its candidate for the western Sydney federal seat of Reid.
Australia joined Israel, the US, Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands as the only countries in the UN General Assembly to oppose the motion calling on Israel to dismantle its illegal wall. This followed an International Court of Justice ruling that deemed the wall in contravention of international law.
Speaking to Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly on July 21, Macdonald described the construction of the barrier as "an apartheid-like act and part of the systematic Israeli theft of Palestinian land". She added that "John Howard thinks he's playing deputy sheriff to George Bush but he has once again taken Australia into a gang of international outlaws".
On July 21, Greens Senator Kerry Nettle also condemned the government's actions: "It's simply appalling that Australia voted against this motion. Every country in the European Union, including Britain, voted to uphold international law in supporting the motion."
Nettle argued that "this vote underlines the lack of commitment the Howard government has to international human rights". She called for the federal government to play a "positive role in seeking a just and peaceful settlement to the conflict in Israel and Palestine".
Paul Heywood-Smith QC, spokesperson for the newly formed National Coalition of Palestine Support Groups, said on July 22: "[Foreign minister Alexander] Downer has demonstrated contempt for the institutions of international law and displays a dismal ignorance of the real situation in the West Bank and Gaza.
"The government should not continue trade links with a country and military which is committing war crimes against the Palestinians and which has refused to abide by previous UN resolutions.
"The wall is destroying the lives of thousands of Palestinians. In many places, they can't reach their fields, schools, hospitals or work."
The coalition called on the Australian government to halt defence contracts and cooperation with Israel. It also called for Australian support for sporting and cultural sanctions and a ban on all military sales to or from Israel until the wall is demolished.
According to ABC News Online on July 22, Labor argued that Australia should have abstained from the vote, because the issues involved are "complex".
From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, July 28, 2004.
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