Jewish academic protests Israeli actions against Palestinians

Jewish academic Marcelo Svirsky is walking from Sydney to Canberra to bring a petition to federal parliament calling for Australia to turn its back on Israel over its actions in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian children sit on the rubble of their house which was destroyed during the fifty days of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli-Palestinian question is among the most divisive in global affairs and allegiances run deep on both sides.

Not so for Jewish academic Marcelo Svirsky.

Mr Svirsky is currently walking from Sydney to Canberra to bring a petition to federal parliament calling for Australia to turn its back on Israel.

He's a backer of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against the Jewish state which argues the only way to change Israel's policies against the Palestianians is to punish the country economically.

Mr Svirsky told Darren Mara his campaign against Israel has cost him dearly.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)