I am a huge fan of Sharri Markson, whose forensic investigation brought to light overwhelming evidence that Covid-19 originated in the virus laboratories of Wuhan. Once again, Markson draws our attention to misinformation, deceit and falsehoods, this time promoted by Senator Sue Lines of the socialist left wing of the Labor Party (“Labor senator’s Israel slur prompts rebuke”, 15/2). Lines attacked Israel in parliament for the “crime of apartheid”, referencing the widely criticised Amnesty International report.
Amnesty’s report is inconsistent with recognised standards, distorts the truth and is disingenuous. For instance, it includes examples of persecution, but fails to mention the individuals are members of Hamas in prison for acts of terrorism.
The report claims “cruel land seizures to dispossess and exclude Palestinians from their land and homes”. Why, then, does it overlook the fact that in December 2015 the Israeli government initiated a five-year $US4.6bn plan to develop and upgrade non-Jewish towns in Israel? Nearly 38 per cent of all housing approvals issued in 2020 were for homes in Arab communities in Israel – in fact, nearly double the proportion of Arab citizens in the country.
Why doesn’t Lines focus instead on Lebanon, where Palestinians cannot vote, buy property, work in most occupations and where they remain living in overcrowded, unsanitary refugee camps? Surely that is an example of an apartheid state.
Alex Selby, Point Piper, NSW
Read the letter in The Australian.