Australia’s Shame:
Standing by Israel’s Attack on UN Leader
Margaret Reynolds and Alison Broinowski / Pearls and Irritations
(October 15, 2024) — Open Letter to Antonio Guterres on the Australian Government’s failure to publicly defend the office of the United Nations Secretary General.
Antonio Guterres,
Secretary General of the United Nations
UN Plaza, New York, USA
Dear Sir,
We write in shame that the Australian Government has failed to join over 100 Member states who have signed an Open Letter to you as Secretary General after you were declared persona non grata by the Foreign Minister of Israel. [You can read the entire letter below — EAW]
We want you to know that the Australian Government’s failure to demonstrate its commitment to your position does not reflect the views of a majority of Australians who value and respect your role and the work of the United Nations to strengthen global understanding and cooperation.
We are distressed that the repeated violations of international law by the government of Israel and its military in Gaza, the Occupied Territories and Lebanon have not been denounced by the Australian Government and some other states.
We welcome the initiative of Chile and all those nations which have clearly articulated their support for you, and we regret that the Australian Government has failed to join them at a time when it is so important for nations to uphold the essential role of the United Nations in advocating for international law to build global peace and security.
Furthermore, we are deeply disturbed that five members of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon have been injured and we will be urging our government to condemn this breach of international law.
Thank you for your continued efforts to provide humanitarian support and a negotiated ceasefire.
Alison Broinowski AM former diplomat, academic and author
Paul Heywood-Smith SC, Australian Friends of Palestine
Ali Kazak, Former Ambassador for Palestine
Mary Kostakidis, International journalist
Sawsan Madina, Former Head of Special Broadcasting Service Television
John Menadue, Publisher, Pearls and Irritations
Stuart Rees, Professor, Sydney Peace Centre
Margaret Reynolds, Former Australian Senator
Greg Barns SC, Barrister, Tasmania
Postscript
This letter is the immediate reaction of distinguished Australians, who hope many more will express their outrage that the State of Israel continues to ignore the United Nations, breach its charter and attack its personnel.
It is time the Australian Government stood up to Israel to demand a halt to all military violence and offered its full support to the United Nations and the Office of the Secretary General.
Open Letter to Antonio Guterres
Office of the United Nations Secretary General
To all Member States and Observers Antonio Guterres,
Secretary General of the United Nations
UN Plaza, New York, USA
(October 2024) — We, the member states signatories to this letter, express our deep concern with and condemnation of the recent statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel declaring the Secretary-General persona non grata. Such actions undermine the United Nations’ ability to carry out its mandate, which includes mediating conflicts and providing humanitarian support.
In the Middle East, this could further delay an end to all hostilities and the establishment of a credible path towards the two-State solution, with the state of Palestine and Israel living side by side in peace and security, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
At times of heightened tension, the role of the Secretary-General is essential in fostering dialogue and understanding among conflicting parties. The Secretary-General plays a vital role in advancing the purposes of the United Nations as outlined in the Charter, including to maintain international peace and security, and develop friendly relations among states. His work remains crucial to ensuring dialogue, facilitating humanitarian efforts, and promoting peace and stability worldwide.
We reaffirm our full support and confidence in the Secretary-General and his work. We are confident of his commitment to peace and security, and alignment with International Law including in promoting respect for international humanitarian law, and the relevant United Nations resolutions regarding the situation in the Middle East.
The Secretary-General’s efforts reflect our shared desire for an end to violence and for meaningful dialogue in the pursuit of lasting peace in the Middle East. We urge all parties to engage constructively with the United Nations to seek a sustainable and just resolution through diplomacy
As member states of the United Nations, we call for respect for the UN’s leadership and its mission. Constructive engagement with the United Nations is vital to overcoming the challenges we face and achieving a peaceful future. In this regard, we call upon all parties to avoid actions that could weaken the critical role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and, instead, to support initiatives that contribute to a peaceful and lasting solution of the crisis in the Middle East.
Sincerely,
- Algeria
2. Andorra
3. Angola
4. Antigua and Barbuda
5. Bahamas
6. Bahrain
7. Barbados
8. Belgium
9. Belize
10. Bolivia
11. Bosnia and Herzegovina
12. Botswana
13. Brazil
14. Burundi
15. Cabo Verde
16. Cambodia
17. Chile
18. China
19. Colombia
20. Costa Rica
21. Cuba
22. Cyprus
23. Denmark
24. Djibouti
25. Dominican Republic
26. Ecuador
27. Egypt
28. Finland
29. France
30. Gambia
31. Greece
32. Grenada
33. Guatemala
34. Guyana
35. Haiti
36. Honduras
37. Iceland
38. Indonesia
39. Islamic Republic of lran
40. Iraq
41. Ireland
42. Jamaica
43. Jordan
44. Kazakhstan
45. Kenya
46. Kuwait
47. Kyrgyzstan
48. Latvia
49. Lebanon
50. Lesotho
51. Liberia
52. Libya
53. Liechtenstein
54. Luxembourg
55. Madagascar
56. Malaysia
57. Maldives
58. Malta
59. Mauritius
60. Mexico
61. Mongolia
62. Montenegro
63. Morocco
64. Mozambique
65. Namibia - 66. Nepal
67. Kingdom of the Netherlands
68. North Macedonia
69. Norway
70. Oman
71. Pakistan
72. Palestine
73. Philippines
74. Portugal
75. Qatar
76. Russian Federation
77. Independent State of Samoa
78. San Marino
79. Saudi Arabia
80. Senegal
81. Slovakia
82. Slovenia
83. Somalia
84. South Africa
85. Spain
86. St Kitts and Nevis
87. St. Lucia
88. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
89. Suriname
90. Sweden
91. Switzerland
92. The Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
93. Tanzania
94. Tajikistan
95. Timor Leste
96. Trinidad and Tobago
97. Republic of Tunisia
98. Türkiye
99. Turkmenistan
100. United Arab Emirates
101. Uzbekistan
102. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
103. Yemen
104. Zimbabwe
105. African Union
Further Reading
• See Pearls & Irritations’ Five-Minute Scroll on X featuring Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan telling CNN media agencies recommends:
• Israelis will reckon with their role in the genocide in Gaza, while the Israeli Minister for Social Equality declares she is proud of the ruins in Gaza and doctors in Gaza release x-rays of bullets in children’s skulls.
• The Australian political class rejects international humanitarian law
