Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Thursday 24 March 2011

Some Home Truths for Sydney's Boycott Derangement Syndrome Brigade

Sydneysider Shirlee Finn (pictured, who I'm proud to say is a frequent commenter on this blog and to whom I've often had occasion to tip my hat) gave the BDS fanatics of Sydney's Marrickville and Randwick councils a piece of her mind at a council meeting this week.  As the antipodean news service J-Wire reports ( http://www.jwire.com.au/news/silence-shirley-good-luck/15876#more-15876) “attempts by the Mayor to cut her back fell foul of Shirley's persistence and determination.... Randwick Council had voted against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions but the three Greens members who voted for it were seeking a rescission of the motion.”

Shirlee Finn told J-Wire: “I had to shout down Greens Mayor Murray Marson to be heard. In fact, there was a lot of heated arguments as to whether I should have been allowed to speak…and I am a ratepayer. He first interjected at line six of my speech but instead of making me nervous, it just inspired me. Half way through my speech he asked me how much longer I was going to take and I told him ‘for as long as it takes and for as long as you keep quiet’”.

The motion remained pass. Marrickville councillors Victor Macri and John Hanna who oppose the motion to implement BDS in the inner West municipality attended the Randwick meeting.

This is what Shirlee Finn had to say:

'I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land, the Cadigal people and pay my respects to elders past and present
On December 14th 2010, the Greens-led Marrickville Council chose to support the BDS, a rapidly growing global organisation, whose basic agenda is the destruction of the State of Israel. Whose founder openly speaks of a Two State Solution as being “A Palestine next to a Palestine, rather than a Palestine next to an Israel”.
They showed their support by passing a Motion, to boycott all goods made in Israel, prohibit cultural exchanges, sporting and academic institutions. Which so far has taken many staff, countless hours to begin enforcing .
Surely, the money spent so far by Marrickville Council, in their attempted boycott of Israel, would have been better used within the Municipality .
Councillors Macri and Hanna, the two councillors who voted against the motion, are here with us this evening. I ‘d would like to personally thank you both very much for being here and for your steadfast support in opposing this motion and for your help, not only to me but to the Community also
In light of Marrickville’s motion, ouncillors at Randwick passed a Motion against them and in support of Israel, which passed by 9 votes to 3.
The three being the Greens, who in response chose to put in a Rescission Motion.
Marrickville Council, pushed by the NSW Greens agenda, and now followed by Randwick Greens, have chosen to support a group whose aim is the destruction of Israel,. and have done so in the run-up to an election, guaranteeing even more publicity for the foul antisemitic agenda of the BDS.,
That both Marrickville and Randwick Greens, would even consider making such an ill advised decision, when their own Federal party commits them to a policy of dialogue and reconciliation towards the Israeli-Palestinian situation, is a stunt of deplorable taste..even for them
Let’s remind ourselves that Israel is a small democratic state, occupying one sixth of 1% of the entire Middle East, it’s barely one third of the size of Tasmania.
Yet in spite of recent events, it remains the only beacon of democracy in the Middle East,.
It enshrines freedom of speech, a free press and a State whose citizens live under the rule of law.
It’s the only state in the Middle East, where people of all religions can practice their faith freely and openly.
It’s the only state in the Middle East, where homosexuals are free to live without fear of persecution, or indeed execution.
It’s a state, which only today, has been the first country to set up a field hospital in Japan.
In short, it’s the state in the Middle East which resembles our own values and with whom Australia has long stood side by side, as a friend and ally
Yet it’s the only state which the Marrickville and Randwick Greens, want to be shunned by our community.
It’s a case of irresponsible, student-style politics of the most opportunistic kind
Shame on you Greens.
The job of Local Government, is just that, taking care of local issues and maintaining much needed services in the local area for the community, regardless of race or religion."'
Shame on the Greens indeed, Shirlee.  But good on yer, girl!  You're a star!

9 comments:

  1. "...Shame on the Greens indeed, Shirlee. But good on yer, girl! You're a star!...

    I echo Daphne's sentiments!

    The Greens Party should change their name to “Brownshirts” to better reflect their political nature.

    http://riffenberg.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/brown_shirt1.jpg

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  2. Thanks, too, for that J-Wire link, Rita - I do subscribe to J-Wire.

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  3. **As much as they may wish it, Greens Councillors are not elected to begin trade wars with our democratic allies around the world
    That Randwick’s Greens intend on following their colleagues down this grubby path, is ill considered at best and inflammatory at worst
    As is their rescission motion , which I strongly urge they throw out once and for all this evening
    There is a large Jewish population within the Randwick Municipality and we deserve your respect, not your vilification.
    Shame on you Randwick Greens and greater shame on you Marrickville Greens
    Australia’s proud history of multiculturism and shared respect has been dealt a blow by your hands and your shameful and ignorant behaviour
    Thank you to the 9 Councillors of Randwick Council, who stood up for truth, justice and the Australian way**


    It was a bun fight. At times I was screaming to make myself heard over the top of the Greens Mayor.

    The first time he interrupted and carried on like an idiot. I told him to “sit down and shut up”.. that I had been given the floor and it was my democratic right to speak and more so as I was a ratepayer in the Municipality.

    Up until then, I was shaky and nervous, even though the prelude leading up to my being permitted to speak was voted on. EVEN one of the Greens was on side.

    His tantrums and constant rudeness and interruptions, inspired me. In a way it was good what he did, because it really fired me up. I actually wondered when his temper tantrums, were going to make him start stamping his little feet!!

    Thank goodness, my candidate for State election, Clr. Bruce Notley-Smith, who is a candidate for the State seat of Coogee, was urging me on.

    The more the Mayor raised his voice, I raised mine louder.

    For once in my life, the loud voice I Have, which everyone I know complains about, stood me in good stead

    His behaviour was nothing short of abominable

    If this is what he and his Green Party are bringing to the political scene, of this wonderful country of ours. Then it had better stay in the gutter where it belongs.

    It appears in this country, that if one wishes to get ahead on the left side of politics, one only has to follow in the steps of our reverend leader Juliar Gillard (dubbed that by Alan Jones, who called her that to her face) or Fiona Byrne, the Greens Mayor of Marrickville, who is making herself look more stupid daily.

    It was embarrassing, the gallery was cheering everything I said. I feel like the local hero. My phones hardly stopped ringing yesterday and the emails were countless.

    Thanks for your kind words too Daphne. Rita has read this in Paris and commented on J-Wire. I will have to connect with her, when she comes home

    Shalom from sunny Sydney !

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  4. You are most welcome Daphne.

    Incidentally, the poster, put by the Brownshirts on the shop window reads:

    Deutsche wehrt Euch (Germans resist)
    Kauft nicht bei Juden (dont buy from Jews)

    These original Brownshirts would appreciate the shameful actions of the Greens in the Marrickville council and elsewhere.

    http://riffenberg.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/brown_shirt1.jpg

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  5. Reported in the AJN:
    Students for Palestine president Omar Hassan said: "Based on the exclusion, racism and genocide that Israel is forcing upon the Palestinians, we believe it is an apartheid state.
    "We want an end to a racist state that is fundamentally wrong."
    Something about motes and beams springs to mine!

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  6. Rita when you come home, we'll have to 'catch up' for lunch.

    Daphne can give you my email address, if she has yours.

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  7. Rita, daphnedotansonatgmaildotcom

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  8. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY , the virulent anti-semite in chief of the nasty Marrickville Council has not made it into the Bear Pitt (*) - at least ONE proof that you cannot always further your personal political ambitions by Jew-Bashing !!!

    Yayyyyyy!!!! And kudos to the N.S.W. voters!

    Now, Shirl in Oz, how about standing for council?!

    *) Nickname for the NSW lower house.

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