Ex-minister for foreign affairs Bob Carr wrote: ‘The Australian government has consistently made clear its view that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for a two-state solution… On December 4, 2012, I instructed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to call in Israel’s Ambassador to Australia, HE Mr Yuval Rotem, to convey the government’s grave concern at reports of Israeli decisions to build 3,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and to unfreeze planning in the area known as E1’ (personal communication, June 25, 2013).
Despite Israel’s criminality, which the Abbott government presumably does not contest, it nevertheless threatens to cut funding to anyone who merely expresses support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign and to penalise those who support boycotts of unethical companies. Community groups such as Byron Friends of Palestine and academics such Professors Jake Lynch and Stuart Rees will no doubt run foul of Abbott’s new laws for urging consumer boycotts of Israeli companies such as Max Brenner, Soda Stream and Ahava Dead Sea Minerals.
Perhaps the Abbott government suffers from Orwellian Doublethink, which is ‘the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them’.
Gareth W R Smith, Byron Bay
Orwellian Doublethink Lou is not a limited affair. All the practical things still apply. ie; you have to bait the hook correctly to catch the …… trip to wild side.