JEWS INVITED TO LEAVE AUSTRALIA

Associate editor Cameron Stewart has a feature article in the Weekend Australian in which he takes a look at accusations of anti-Israel bias in universities. Stewart's article is nicely balanced and definitely not pro-Zion:

Australia's Jewish community is politically conservative - often more so than in Israel - and it has long been frustrated with the inherently left-wing bias perceived in Australian universities. It hopes that this public challenge to the nation's universities will ultimately lead to less strident criticism of Israel in academe.

But the pro-Israel lobby also risks overplaying its hand and being perceived as using bullying to impose its own agenda. Their complaints inevitably will be interpreted by some as an attempt to muzzle academic debate rather than simply encourage greater diversity of ideas on campus.

Despite its balance, Antony Loewenstein sees Stewart's article as something of an attack on Australia's valiant anti-Zion crusaders. He has this to say about Stweart:

Unlike some recent dishonest attempts by the Murdoch press to slam more critical voices on the Middle East, today’s piece at least attempts to present a variety of perspectives. It should not be forgotten, however, that the journalist of the story, Cameron Stewart, returned from a Zionist-paid trip to Israel earlier in the year and yelped like an over-excited school boy after spending time around Israeli military hardware.

Bear in mind the mangled crap above was produced by a journalist and best-selling author. The "yelped" link is to a short quote from Stewart:

“There is nothing like seeing and getting a better understanding of the geography of Israel and its borders. It took all of three minutes to fly [by helicopter] to the security border and I think it gives a very good example of the security issues that Israel faces. It was a really fascinating time to be there because there were so many changes. While we were there, there were lots of political defections. There was a suicide bombing in Netanya and some rocket attacks.”

No yelping there I could find. Anyway, Loewenstein condemns the Zionist lobby's ongoing attempts to "silence" the enlightened:

The Zionist lobby resents the fact that more citizens are being exposed to divergent views on Israel/Palestine. They no longer control the agenda, have barely understood the arrival of web-based communication/blogs and simply cannot hide the barbarity and racism that represents present-day Israel. So what do they do? Shoot the messenger, bully the journalist/editor/academic/MP and hope that such pressure will lead to obedience.

Zionists obviously have the right to express their ideas and values. They don’t have the right to try and silence opposing views.

These attempted silencing claims from a popular blogger, widely published journalist and best-selling author whose specialty is Israel bashing are genuinely curious, as is this conclusion to his rant:

When will the Jewish establishment understand that differing views exist in a democracy? Maybe they should live elsewhere.

Gee, look who can't tolerate opposing points of view.

Update: The thread at Loewenstein's shows one comment but no comment is visible. Someone must have said something he doesn't like. (Actually, the "comment" is track-back.)