In a week where dozens of Palestinian protesters were killed on the Gaza border by Israeli forces, Australia's Arabic-speaking community appears divided in opinion over the escalating situation.
In the bloodiest single day for Palestinians since 2014, Palestinian Health Ministry officials said 59 protesters were killed and more than 2,700 injured by gunfire, tear gas or other means.
In opinions that were aired on SBS Arabic24's radio program, Good Morning Australia, listeners revealed a diversity of views.
“The Palestinian Authority is responsible for what is happening and the only solution is to change the country’s failing leadership," Eddie said.
“It is a very sad and painful day, not only for every Muslim or Palestinian but to every free person. The injustices that Palestinians are facing today and every day are clear and need no validation. Yet in spite of this, the regional and global power sits still watching what is happening without taking any action”.
Ghassan, another listener, disagreed and took aim at Palestinians.
“Hamas, Fateh and every Palestinian and Arab person, every Muslim, every Christian and every free person bears responsibility," he told SBS Arabic24. "If we put ourselves in the shoes of the Americans and Israelis we would see that now is the best time to move the US embassy and declare Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel”.
Ghassan believed Palestinians are disunited, and the Arabs are concerned internal affairs and means to “strengthen their leadership." He added that if Egypt was more stable and threatened to cancel the peace agreement and expel the Israeli ambassador, things would have turned out differently in the Israel-Palestine conflict.
“The same applies to Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries”, he said.
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Randa, on the other hand, thought Hamas had had nothing to with the bloodshed.
“With the presence of Hamas or without it the Palestinians are already tired, it is as if they are dead," he said.
“The issue is bigger than that, they [America and Israel] want us to forget anything called resistance, they want us to forget that we have a right with the Israelis. The Palestinians are tired, and they have all the right to demonstrate and even do more than that.”
Khaled said the current situation could be put down to the “natural result of the Arabs and Palestinians forsaking the Palestinian cause.”
“South Africa is more Arab than the Arabs themselves”, he said, in reference to the country pulling its ambassador out of Israel over the Gaza violence.
Although the Palestinian authorities have repeatedly stated that the solution will only be through negotiations, not everyone SBS Arabic24 spoke to agreed.
Issam believed that the solution could not be achieved peacefully.
"Jerusalem will remain Arab as long as blood is shed to overthrow the Zionist project in our country. Unfortunately, the Americans and Israelis desecrated our country only when the Arabs and the Arab regimes in particular agreed to be humiliated.”
Mohammad had a contradicting view. His family, both from his mother's and father’s side were in Palestine during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Mohammad explained that his mother’s family decided to leave Palestine at the time and they now regret doing that and being "humiliated as refugees". His father’s parents however, remained in their lands and they are now Arab citizens of Israel.
“Israeli Arabs work on the Palestinian cause legitimately. They still work in the same resistance to occupation mentality they always had despite of their Israeli nationality.”
The opening of the US embassy coincided with the declaration of the establishment of the State of Israel and the 70th anniversary of what Palestinians call their "Nakba" or catastrophe - the uprooting of hundreds of thousands in the Middle East War over Israel's 1948 creation.
Official reactions
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After the move of the US embassy and the killing of dozens of Palestinians in Gaza rallies, the world, publicly and officially denounced the misappropriate use of force by the Israeli forces.
"Any loss of life is tragic in these circumstances"
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Hamas' conduct was confrontational and seeking to provoke Israeli defence forces.
"Any loss of life is tragic in these circumstances," Mr Turnbull told 3AW radio on Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop expressed deep regret and sadness over the deaths and injuries.
"We recognise that Israel has legitimate security concerns and needs to protect its population, and we call on Israel to be proportionate in its response and refrain from excessive use of force," Ms Bishop said in a statement.
"Australia urges Palestinian protesters to refrain from violence and attempting to enter into Israeli territory during the March of Return."
Ms Bishop said the violence underlines the importance of a return to negotiations toward a two-state solution and peace.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten called on both sides to de-escalate the situation.
"When you see the death of children, no good comes of that. That's a disaster," he told reporters in Brisbane.
Palestinian Ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi told SBS Arabic 24 that the Palestinians will continue with their peaceful strategy through demonstrations and other creative actions like boycotting Israeli products and joining international agreements that the United States has formerly requested Palestinians not to join.
“We will reactivate the vital role of the international criminal court, in specifically with the issues related to the illegal Israeli settlements, the Gaza siege, and the killing of innocent Palestinians and other matters.”
Palestinian Ambassador to Australia Izzat Abdulhadi Source: Palestinian Embassy
“The United states role in the peace process has ended”.
In response to the United States' role in the peace talks, Mr Abdulhadi said: “There were never really talks, there hasn’t been any for more than three years, but we wanted to give Trump a chance and see if he will act on his promise to provide a balanced solution that will work for both Palestine and Israeli”.
“So, officially, the United States role in the peace process has ended”.
In relation to the official Australian reactions, Mr Abdulhadi believed that there are great developments to recognise the state of Palestine with some political parties like Labor and the Greens.
“There are many PMs who support the Palestinian people. We also have a direct channel to the foreign affairs office and the minister, who also refused moving the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“However, we need a clearer reaction from the Australia, as the government is still hesitant in taking a clear position in recognising the State of Palestine.”
He added, “It seems as if there is a gap between the public opinion and the official response from the government.”
On the Israeli side, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again defended his country’s response to protests in Gaza and blamed the territory’s ruling Hamas party for the violence.
“They’re pushing civilians – women, children – into the line of fire with a view of getting casualties. We try to minimise casualties. They’re trying to incur casualties in order to put pressure on Israel, which is horrible,” Netanyahu told CBS News, according to a transcript of the excerpt.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee. Source: EPA/ALAA BADARNEH
Hundreds rally at Sydney Gaza protest
Hundreds of Palestinian supporters gathered in Sydney on Tuesday night to protest the deadliest day of fighting since the 2014 Gaza war.
About 400 supporters gathered in solidarity with the dozens of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military as the US held an inauguration ceremony for the new American Embassy in Jerusalem.
Bundjalung woman and University of New South Wales law student Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts who is a supporter of the Palestinian cause and was a speaker in the rally had a strong message to send to Trump: “The fact that Donald Trump can declare Jerusalem is the state of Israel is absolutely horrific.”
She added: “Donald Trump your leadership is appalling, you don’t represent any type of actual leaders, we know what good leadership is, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King… you are absolutely a joke and you don’t represent anyone or anything except for white nationalists in the states and around the world that are for neo-imperialism which none of us stand for.”
Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts Source: Facebook
Ryan mcgibbon Thomson, Maritime Union of Australia Source: Supplied
"The support for Palestine in Australia is growing, we are with you.”
Ryan mcgibbon Thomson, youth representative of the maritime union of Australia, who visited Palestine recently, said he is attending this protest to support the Palestinian people, “When I was in Palestine I saw the harsh realities Palestinians face every single day with all the illegal occupation, I’m here in Solidarity with the young, old and the ones who have been killed.
He also had another message, “I’m here to let everyone know that the support for Palestine in Australia is growing, we are with you.”
