2024-07-27

Public Statements and Letters of Concern | Australia Yearly Meeting

Public Statements and Letters of Concern | Australia Yearly Meeting

Public Statements and Letters of Concern

Image: Bruce Henry, Presiding Clerk, by Gordon Flynn

A Public Statement:
  • is made on behalf of Quakers in Australia and signed by the Presiding Clerk
  • is a formal position that Friends take on contemporary issues that reflect or intersect with our concerns
  • is done in consultation with the QA Coordinator, who normally has received a draft statement from either a Yearly Meeting session, an QA Committee, or a Regional Meeting
A Letter of Concern:
  • is made on behalf of Quakers in Australia and signed by the Presiding Clerk
  • is sent to government official/s to voice a concern that Australian Friends have regarding a public policy, government action (or inaction) or a matter of urgency that Friends believe needs to be addressed

 

Letters of Concern 2024

 

Public Statements 2024

 

Public Statements 2023

Letters of Concern 2023

Letters of Concern 2022

Public Statements 2022

Letters of Concern 2021

Public Statements 2021

Public Statements 2020

Public Statements 2017

Public Statements 2016

 

Letters of Concern 2020

Letters of Concern 2019

Letters of Concern 2018

Previous
Related Files: 
File Letter to Defence Minister Richard Marles re arms sales to Israel for use in Gaza April 2024.docx
PDF icon Letter to Defence Minister Richard Marles re arms sales to Israel for use in Gaza April 2024.pdf

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Palestine/Israel
Quakers grieve deeply the decades-long injustices inflicted on Palestinians by the policies of the State of Israel. Our hearts are breaking for the extreme suffering and loss of life currently being experienced in Gaza, inflicted by the Israeli military. We acknowledge that people in Palestine and Israel are currently living in extreme fear, intensifying historical collective traumas felt by many. We affirm that of God in all people, whether victims or perpetrators of violence, and seek justice, freedom and peace for all. We note the courage of Palestinians advocating for their freedom; and Israeli conscientious objectors and solidarity campaigners supporting this goal. We commit ourselves not just to speaking up for Palestinian self-determination, but to creative and courageous action to challenge our
Government’s complicity and to stand with all those suffering.

Quakers affirm our call for an immediate ceasefire, as well as the release of all hostages –both those kidnapped by Hamas; and Palestinians held by Israel without charge. These actions would be the first steps on a path towards justice and self-determination for Palestinians.
To prevent further loss of life, we urge the Australian government to take further steps, including
● recalling the Australian Ambassador to Israel for talks with the Australian
Government,
● placing travel restrictions on Israeli Government officials involved in war
making,
● Ending all military ties with Israel, including any direct arms sales to Israel or
exports of weapons or weapons parts to Israel and divesting the Future Fund
from any Israeli arms manufacturers (noting current investments in Elbit)


26 July 2024
Dear federalrepresentatives
Palestine, Israel and the International Court of Justice

At our recent national gathering Quakers expressed grief at both the decades-long injusticessuffered by
Palestinians and the current loss of life in Gaza being inflicted by the Israeli military. We acknowledged
that people in Israel as well as Palestine are living in extreme fear, intensifying historical collective
traumas. We affirmed our call for an immediate ceasefire, as well as the release of all hostages.
To prevent furtherloss of life, we believe that the Australian Governmentshould
(a) recall the Australian Ambassador to Israel for talks,
(b) place travel restrictions on Israeli Government officialsinvolved in warmaking, and
(c) end all military ties with Israel, including any direct arms sales or exports of weapons or
weapons parts, and divest the Future Fund from Israeli arms manufacturerssuch as Elbit.

We also write about the 19 July 2024 decision of the International Court of Justice about Israel’s settlements. We welcome the Australian Government's careful consideration of the ICJ’s decision, and the statement of respect of the Court. We are pleased that the Government has subsequently sanctioned Israeli citizens and a group complicit in settler violence as a first step of the Government’s response.

The scope of the International Court of Justice’s decision however is well beyond individual acts of violence by settlers. The Court states that the entirety of Israel’s settlements constitutes annexation of Palestinian land, violating Palestinian rights to self-determination. 

Australia should also affirm the calls of the Court for Israel to dismantle the settlements, end its Occupation of Palestinian lands and its policies that are in breach of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. 
Most importantly the Court’s ruling places a legal obligation on Australia to stop all trade in goods from illegal settlements and halt tax deductibility for Australian organisations supporting these illegal settlements.

As an elected representative in our Parliament, we ask you to do all in your power to bring Australia’s policies in line with these rulings by the International Court of Justice, as well as the International Criminal Court, so Palestinian people can have their rights to life and self-determination respected.

In peace,
Bruce Henry
Presiding Clerk
The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia

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