AFOPA’s Patron, Paul Heywood-Smith, writes a response and challenge to the editorial in The Australian newspaper of 21 October 2022

Australian Friends of Palestine welcome Penny Wong’s Jerusalem decision but express disappointment in terrorist link.

Australian Friends of Palestine Association Chair, Edie Bransbury has welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to rescind the former Coalition government’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The decision aligns Australia with the great majority of countries in the international community.

“The definition proposed for adoption by the South Australian parliament is one devised by the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (or IHRA). It is a flawed definition because it singles out one group of people for special treatment. This motion is specific to Israel and to Israel only. The motion moved by One Nation’s Sarah Game gives Israel a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

The motion itself determines the ways in which we might be allowed to criticise Israel without finding ourselves labelled as antisemitic.”

AFOPA rejects anti-Semitism and other forms of racism. AFOPA exists to support the aspirations of Palestinians for justice, equality and human rights.

AFOPA advocates a peaceful path towards a future of justice, equality and security for both Israelis and Palestinians based on international law and UN resolutions.