When I read the Sydney Morning Herald headline about this development, I assumed it must be a typical January “silly season” political beat-up.

After all, surely no self-respecting member of the Albanese Government would exert any diplomatic effort on the Netanyahu regime which ignores international law and is responsible for crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Who had determined there is any need to mend a “fractured relationship”? Australian Government spokesmen have, in fact, spent months avoiding direct condemnation of this out-of-control regime, steadfastly refusing to face the reality of Netanyahu’s ruthless military campaign. There is no ”fractured relationship” because Australia’s leadership has been at pains to remain loyal to this rogue ally even though there must be those in the Albanese Cabinet who totally reject the actions of the Netanyahu regime.

It is a surprise that the attorney-general himself has chosen to visit Israel at this time when he has been silent since January 2024 about Australia’s obligation as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, carefully sidestepping any public comment while other nations supported South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice. As the chief national law officer, Dreyfus has refused to engage in public debate about the........

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