Israel’s decision under its fanatic ethno-nationalist government to both approve more West Bank settlements and invade Gaza City now tragically defines the whole Zionist project: a 70-year campaign to purge Palestinians and create a greater Israel. Netanyahu’s criminality now defines Israel’s mission and recasts its history.

An Israel run by settlers and religious fanatics will now demolish the last houses of Palestinians in Gaza and starve them, “concentrating” them (this verb chosen with deliberation) into tents in the south and offering them evacuation to South Sudan or Libya.

The civilised world faces this challenge: how can you not sanction a nation conducting a rolling genocide?

In short, how much longer will we be able to treat this Israel as a normal diplomatic partner? It is behaving like a pariah, demanding to be treated like one. Challenge to our own Jewish lobby: when will you condemn it?

Bob Carr is a former Premier of New South Wales (1995–2005), and a former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012–2013).

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