Following yet another Israeli Settler killing spree and the “annexation of the West Bank”, Israel is now a “formal, full-fledged apartheid regime”, writes leading Isreali newspaper Ha’aretz. Sunday’s attack on the Palestinian town of Huwarra was the most violent of such settler attacks in decades. Located near Nablus in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the Continue reading »
Religion and Faith
Last Thursday, the Australian government condemned Israel for planting more settlements on the occupied West Bank: 10,000 extra units. It’s a big step to criticise Israel because in Australia its organised friends are a powerful lobby. But this was a huge breach of international law. And, as Penny Wong pointed out, a deliberate blow to Continue reading »
Every time we Palestinians, despite all the compromises we offer, try to gain a modicum of justice we find not only is it denied to us, but that we are the ones to blame for this lack of progress for a peaceful co-existence with our occupiers. In May of this year, I will reach the Continue reading »
The first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine approaches. No direct dialogue has yet been established between the warring parties. Just more hostility. More weapons, always more weapons and therefore more dead people. Many of the dead are so young, as in every war and as in these pictures below from last year. Tragically they Continue reading »
At personal, national and international levels, crises provide learning opportunities. How to adapt to loss by seeking change, how to think differently about family, community and nation by, among other things, pondering the meaning of security and sovereignty. Immediate responses to the massive earthquake disasters in Turkey and Syria concern rescue, shelter, food supply, healthcare Continue reading »
Many well meaning participants genuinely opposed to religious oppression at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit this week in Washington will not realise that they are pawns in a US State Department geopolitical game. The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit this week in Washington, appears to be a great idea. Everyone in the world is Continue reading »
Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra-right government’s reported response to the “terrorism” of the Palestinian who killed seven people at a synagogue in east Jerusalem on 27 January 2023 includes the likely collective punishment of the family of the attacker, such as loss of citizenship, house demolition and deportation. “Fair enough”, some might say. But the reality is Continue reading »
What role is Australia playing in the diplomacy that ultimately will end the Ukraine conflict and prevent war over Taiwan? Even the most hawkish cannot seriously believe such conflicts will end militarily. The roll call of countries where the civilian population endures armed conflict is seemingly endless. When the conflict is primarily about a struggle Continue reading »
Opus Dei is a sect. Its spirituality doesn’t free the spirit, but enslaves it. Last Monday’s Four Corners exposé on Sydney’s Opus Dei (OD) schools was disappointing. The programme lacked a broader context. Sure, we learned that according to some ex-students and parents the schools weren’t woke, and that some teachers touted particularly silly assertions Continue reading »
But truth can set them free. George Pell’s funeral presents a problem for Australia’s Catholic bishops. They will be comfortable gathering to give their colleague his rightful requiem and final dismissal, according to the rights of the church. They will know, however, that as the Catholic community looks on it will be preoccupied by one Continue reading »