Latest news with #PeaceConference
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Force Won't Free Hostages': Russia Urges Diplomacy; Slams Israel For Blockading Gaza Strip
Russia's UN representative Vasily Nebenzya has called on Israel to immediately halt violence in the occupied Palestinian territories and lift the Gaza blockade. He urged full protection for civilians and unimpeded humanitarian access. Nebenzya said forceful methods to resolve the hostage crisis have failed and demanded an immediate ceasefire through international mediation. He also endorsed Saudi and French efforts to organize a peace conference in New York this July, stressing that only a two-state solution offers a viable path to peace in the Middle East.#RussiaUN #GazaCrisis #IsraelPalestine #CeasefireNow #TwoStateSolution #MiddleEastPeace #UNSpeech #Nebenzya #GazaBlockade #PeaceConference Read More
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former Home Affairs chief Mike Pezzullo tears into Albanese's 'unoriginal' tribute to John Curtin in 'mythical' portrait of legendary PM
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent portrait of John Curtin was an unoriginal and mythic repetition of the Curtin tropes. He painted Curtin as a canonised Labor hero who locked horns with Churchill over the return of Australian troops from the Middle East, and who maintained a ceaseless vigil as those troops made their way home by sea. Somehow this was a declaration of independence, when Australia, supposedly for the first time, thought and acted for itself. Never mind Alfred Deakin building our own navy before World War I, or Billy Hughes pursuing our security interests after that war at the Paris Peace Conference. The real Curtin was a courageous political leader who, after being appointed Prime Minister in October 1941, did his best to mobilise the Australian people for the coming war in the Pacific. In December 1941, he famously turned to the US. He had little choice but to appeal desperately for US military assistance, as Australia could not defend itself, and could not rely upon Britain, which was fighting for its life against Nazi Germany. Curtin knew that Australia would be a crucial base for future US operations against Imperial Japan. First, however, Australia would have to be defended. In early 1942, he and Churchill had a disagreement over the disposition of Australian forces. Curtin wanted them to return home; Churchill wanted them sent to Burma. The resultant flurry of cables between the two was a minor dance of allies arguing over war strategy. Churchill and Roosevelt had far more serious arguments, especially over the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. In 1944, as James Curran showed in Curtin's Empire (2011), after the danger to Australia had passed, Curtin tried to resuscitate the idea of 'imperial defence', whereby Britain and its self-governing British dominions would better coordinate their defence strategies and foreign policies. Curtin turned back to the British Empire, which is surely an inconvenient blindspot in the mythic origin story of an 'independent' Australian foreign policy. Forget such myths. A grittier and unsanctified version of Curtin would serve us better today. Indeed, that Curtin would be a leader for these dark days. With a largeness of mind and a strength of character, the Curtin of history grasped the terrible reality that global circumstances did not suit his agenda of socialistic reform. Instead, he had to focus on questions of war. After he became Leader of the Opposition in 1935, Curtin recognised that he would have to champion what was, for him and his party, an unnatural cause – namely, how best to independently defend Australia, at a time when the prevailing orthodoxy was to rely on Britain, and its naval base in Singapore. Had Curtin won the elections of 1937 and 1940, Australia would have been better prepared. The national panic of 1941-42 might have been avoided. Australia might have even re-armed in time to be able to deploy a powerful force in its sea-air approaches to confront Imperial Japan's southwards thrust. Perhaps, Australia might have 'looked to America' sooner - but demanding the final say in its own local defence. Those who would seek to appropriate Curtin's legacy should not be allowed to admire only what he did as a wartime leader. To honour him properly, we have to ask what a modern-day Curtin would do in the face of a looming war. While working tirelessly for peace through diplomacy, Curtin today would be vocal about the threat posed by China. He would argue for greater defence self-reliance and dramatically increased defence spending. He would be concerned about the threat of missile and air attack, offensive cyber strikes, raids in remote areas, attacks on shipping, and so on. He would be deeply engaged with his professional advisers on how best to deal with these military problems. He would show a deep interest in complex matters of war. He would recognise that, in a new 'look to America', ANZUS would need to become a warfighting alliance, with a standing headquarters (but this time headed by an Australian). He would authorise the development of war plans, including jointly with the United States. He would ask to see those war plans, and to approve them. He would also give priority to home defence, mobilisation, defence production, and the introduction of national service. The problem with meeting our heroes is that they always disappoint us. Meeting the real Curtin – the one who was focused on technical military issues, even if that meant setting aside a socialistic reforming zeal – would disappoint the Prime Minister. That, however, is the Curtin that we need today. The Curtin who in the 1930s was concerned that Australia was not doing enough to get ready, and who would today be deeply concerned to see history repeating itself. Michael Pezzullo was the Home Affairs Secretary from December 2017 until November 2023.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
France likely to move forward on a two-state solution in Middle East, says French ambassador to Ireland
France is considering a move to recognise a Palestinian state 'in time', the French ambassador to Ireland has said. Céline Place anticipated that France will be the driving force behind diplomatic moves to bring about a two-state solution to the crisis. In London this week, French president Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to 'initiate the political dynamic' of recognising Palestinian statehood. 'A two-state solution and the recognition of the state of Palestine are the only way to build peace,' he said. Last month a peace conference that was due to be held in New York was postponed after Israel's attack on Iran. Ms Place said France is now looking at rescheduling the conference, perhaps during the UN General Assembly in September. READ MORE Ireland, along with Spain and Norway, recognised a Palestinian state in May last year. Ms Place said French recognition for a Palestinian state was 'a point that Ireland made very clear' when then taoiseach, now Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Harris, met Mr Macron in Paris last August. 'We are committed to organising this international conference on the two-states solution working towards the recognition of the Palestinian state,' she said. 'There have been several comments by our president on this very active commitment to getting as many countries as possible to recognise a Palestinian state as it will really be leverage to relaunch a political process towards it. 'I would anticipate that we will be recognise a Palestinian state in time.' She declined to comment on the Occupied Territories Bill currently being proposed by the Government, saying it was an internal matter for Ireland. [ Government effort to ban occupied territories trade gets EU boost Opens in new window ] Ms Place said there will be a new five-year bilateral working plan between Ireland and France between 2025 and 2030 focusing on Ireland's presidency of the EU, beginning in July next year. France will also chair the G7 from January next year. 'I imagine we will use both to push forward together priorities.' As part of the new plan the French embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) will sponsor efforts for Irish diplomats and civil servants and Irish army officers to speak French. 'It is an asset to speak French in Brussels, but also the francophone countries in Africa. The French language is a big priority for us.'
