Dear Sally and Michelle
I am writing to you in my capacity as a delegate to the ACTU Congress in June 2024 to express my grave disappointment with the attached statement you made on ‘Gaza’ on behalf of the ACTU.
Your statement misstates the facts and the Australian Union Movement’s recognition that sometimes Australia must go to war to ensure peace in the future.
Your assertion that over 33,000 Palestinian civilians have died in Gaza since 7 October closes the ACTU’s eyes to the fact that at least 10,000 of these were combatants for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
You imply that the dire circumstances facing the people of Gaza is the responsibility of Israel, when this is far from true. The leadership of Hamas continues to have the power to bring about an immediate ceasefire by releasing their hostages and surrendering their arms. Instead, Hamas continues to launch missiles at Israel and maintains it will again murder, mutilate and rape Israeli civilians whenever they can. Where is the ACTU’s condemnation of Hamas? Why haven’t you condemned its sexual violence against Israeli women and girls? Why are you parroting lines espoused by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis and Iran? Death to Israel – of course. Death to America – naturally. Death to Australia – follows as a matter of course.
Your statement calls for the removal of the security wall. This was needed to protect Israeli civilians from suicide bombers, or have you forgotten that hundreds of Jews were murdered this way by terrorists based in the West Bank.
Your statement calls for a two-state solution with security of borders, but you do not acknowledge that the Palestinian Leadership has always rejected such offers by Israel. You now want to reward Hamas atrocities with a State to continue their attacks on Israel.
It’s time you both recognised what is really happening in the Middle East. Iran and its axis are seeking to make the Land between the River and the Sea Jew free. These efforts began well before the State of Israel was established. Israel is not the problem. It is the murderous ideology of this axis which is to blame.
It is time for you both, on behalf of the ACTU, to support the efforts of the Governments of Israel and the USA to build a new peace in the Middle East by working with the Governments of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others. Why isn’t the ACTU applauding these efforts and urging the Australian Government to work with them?
I look forward to seeing you at Congress.
Regards
Jeff
