The following letter was endorsed by 300 participants at a public meeting in Sydney on February 6 and sent to federal ministers and Labor backbenchers.
The killing of more than 1300 people in Gaza, a large proportion of whom were children, plus the devastation of homes and basic infrastructure, prompts the question: where is the respect for human rights? This question also addresses Hamas firing of rockets which, during the long siege of Gaza, killed at least 11 Israelis.
In relation to the Gaza catastrophe, we ask that your government cease the practice of treating Israel as an exceptional state, above international law, able to ignore UN resolutions, steal more land for settlements and able to kill at will. Please also find the courage to challenge Israeli spokespersons' explanations and excuses for their brutality.
We also ask you and your colleagues to find the courage to develop an independent Australian policy which recognises that peace with justice for the Palestinians, as identified by the rulings and principles of international law, would also provide security for Israel.
Dialogue for a just peace, including meetings with Hamas, is the least costly, the most visionary and the only non-violent way to address this decades-old injustice.
Yours sincerely,
Stuart Rees
Sydney Peace Foundation and chairperson of public meeting, letter endorsed by more than 300 participants