Contributed by Jim Hayes

The carnage in Gaza inflicted by Israel continues, and starvation and sickness, have been added to the bombs and bullets, as the mans for killing on an industrial scale. Of the 193 governments of United Nations members, all but a handful have condemned Israel’s murderous behaviour. A huge 147 majority have recognised the Palestinian state.

This reaction by the world’s governments is not nearly as important as the overwhelming world public opinion of ordinary citizens, which calls for more action from their governments, like ending trade with Israel, divestment from Israeli companies, and the expulsion Israel’s diplomatic representatives. This groundswell o opinion has done more than anything else to ensure most governments oved towards defending the Palestinian population.

Photo by Wojtek Radwanski/AFP: Marching in Poland as part of global movement to stop Israel’s genocide

Not so Australia, where the bipartisan pro-Israel position of the two major parties has held despite the sift of public opinion in the opposite direction. In doing this, the Albanese Labor government, with the actual support of the Coalition opposition, has tagged along with Washington, and to a lesser extent with some of Europe, to join in the political support of Israel, helping to supply the weapons for the murder of the Palestinian population, and of course, refusing to admit what is really going on.

It’s not all bad though. The scale of the prop Palestine movement is having an effect. Pressure within Labor’s grass roots membership is building. Party branches have been arguing the issue, and the usual result is a strengthening of call for much stronger action by the government against Israel and support for the Palestinians. This is pushing the Prime Minister to at least be see not care. He has now called Isarael’s blockade in aid to Gaza “an outrage.” There are likely to be more similar statements in the near future.

Photo by Dan Himbrechts: Australian Teachers come out for Palestine in Victoria as part of a massive movement across the nation

But this will still be far from good enough without past words into action. Nevertheless, the small shift in the rhetoric is important, because it provides the opportunity to push for more. This comes at a time when other governments are being propelled in the same direction. They have gone further. The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have gone so far as to impose targeted sanctions on Israel and have threatened to step this up if needed. Although this may not be much, it does add to the isolation of the Australian, and particularly the United States government, the main enabler of Israel’s crimes.

Led by France, Australia is under pressure to join in a strengthening of stronger collective response to Israel’s actions by western countries, including a push for recognition of a Palestinians state. For the Albanese government there is the choice of taking the side of overwhelming global opinion, or backing the continuation of the United States continued enabling of Israel for its geopolitical ambitions. Taking a degree of political independence has not been the habit of Australian governments. Changing this is not easy. But it is the right thing to do.