Great article. It IS chilling. People in the wider Australian community see what the Israeli lobbyists can do & they - rightfully - are afraid to speak out. Would a RioTinto, BHP, Woodside or Fortescue employee face a similar fate if they supported Palestine on social media? Nobody is game to test it, and so Israel manages to cower many, many people who would like to condemn its actions.
Excellent article! (recommended by Josh Bornstein on The Sunday Shot).
Administrators have demonstrated they are incapable of distinguishing between genuine stakeholder engagement and capitulation to a hostile political lobby. This is not mere "political expediency"; it is the active dismantling of the institution's integrity and societal purpose. The irony of those responsible treating their own roles as casually as they treated Lattouf’s will not be lost on anyone, but the damage they've inflicted will be systemic and enduring.
Is it that they do not understand? Or do they not care? Or both?
They most likely genuinely lack a deep, ideological understanding of the principles they are meant to defend."Academic freedom" or "journalistic independence" are probably abstract HR concepts to them, or worse, "risks" to be managed, rather than the foundational purpose of the institution. They see the lobbyist campaign not as an attack on their institution's soul, but as a PR crisis to be contained.
Their lack of understanding then presumably leads them to caring more about their immediate KPIs: managing budgets, avoiding negative press cycles, and protecting their own professional position. The long-term, systemic damage to public trust or intellectual freedom is a future, abstract problem. The angry phone calls and hostile media campaign are a present, concrete problem.
The depth of lobbying is evidenced by a cricket commentator, Peter Lallor, being sacked by SEN chief Craig Hutchinson because the sound of his voice giving cricket commentary would cause Jewish Australians to feel unsafe.
Once again congratulations on an outstanding analysis Nick. I have added a comment in a new brief substack on one dimension of the Lattouf Affair--the increasingly disordered criticism of Jewish critics of Israel-in-Gaza.
I used to look to these institutions and others like universities as leaders for how we’d like our society to be. So much trust has been undermined by their unwilling to even be intellectually truthful. And how does The Oz still have so much impact?
Brilliant piece by Nick Feik. Expressing the frustration people feel about the actions of cultural institutions when it comes to Palestinians. My blood boils.
All due to the ignorance of the Australian public who Albo decided on 9 October should be told Palestine is our enemy and the 140+ years of zionist and jewish murders and abuses before 7 October were deleted.
It was heartening that Antoinette Lattouf won her case, as she should have, but the ABC has hardly changed. It's distressing to hear their continual refusal to report the continuing genocide. The Qld government's manner of discontinuing Ren Wyld's fellowship was unbelievable. So arrogant, not even informing her till the last minute. Afraid of bad press, obviously. The Crisafulli government has a lot to answer for. Thanks for the great article.
Great article. It IS chilling. People in the wider Australian community see what the Israeli lobbyists can do & they - rightfully - are afraid to speak out. Would a RioTinto, BHP, Woodside or Fortescue employee face a similar fate if they supported Palestine on social media? Nobody is game to test it, and so Israel manages to cower many, many people who would like to condemn its actions.
Excellent article! (recommended by Josh Bornstein on The Sunday Shot).
Administrators have demonstrated they are incapable of distinguishing between genuine stakeholder engagement and capitulation to a hostile political lobby. This is not mere "political expediency"; it is the active dismantling of the institution's integrity and societal purpose. The irony of those responsible treating their own roles as casually as they treated Lattouf’s will not be lost on anyone, but the damage they've inflicted will be systemic and enduring.
Is it that they do not understand? Or do they not care? Or both?
They most likely genuinely lack a deep, ideological understanding of the principles they are meant to defend."Academic freedom" or "journalistic independence" are probably abstract HR concepts to them, or worse, "risks" to be managed, rather than the foundational purpose of the institution. They see the lobbyist campaign not as an attack on their institution's soul, but as a PR crisis to be contained.
Their lack of understanding then presumably leads them to caring more about their immediate KPIs: managing budgets, avoiding negative press cycles, and protecting their own professional position. The long-term, systemic damage to public trust or intellectual freedom is a future, abstract problem. The angry phone calls and hostile media campaign are a present, concrete problem.
Despicable and cultivated ego-centric ignorance.
Took this comment further ;-)
https://substack.com/@academicsforpalestinewa/note/c-130614124?r=5bv201&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
The depth of lobbying is evidenced by a cricket commentator, Peter Lallor, being sacked by SEN chief Craig Hutchinson because the sound of his voice giving cricket commentary would cause Jewish Australians to feel unsafe.
Once again congratulations on an outstanding analysis Nick. I have added a comment in a new brief substack on one dimension of the Lattouf Affair--the increasingly disordered criticism of Jewish critics of Israel-in-Gaza.
Robert Manne AO, FASSA.
I used to look to these institutions and others like universities as leaders for how we’d like our society to be. So much trust has been undermined by their unwilling to even be intellectually truthful. And how does The Oz still have so much impact?
Brilliant piece by Nick Feik. Expressing the frustration people feel about the actions of cultural institutions when it comes to Palestinians. My blood boils.
Excellent work Nick!
Thanks Nick, superb analysis.
Let’s hope the pro-Israel lobbyists who are currently going after Mary Kostakidis meet with a similar result.
All due to the ignorance of the Australian public who Albo decided on 9 October should be told Palestine is our enemy and the 140+ years of zionist and jewish murders and abuses before 7 October were deleted.
Excellent work
It was heartening that Antoinette Lattouf won her case, as she should have, but the ABC has hardly changed. It's distressing to hear their continual refusal to report the continuing genocide. The Qld government's manner of discontinuing Ren Wyld's fellowship was unbelievable. So arrogant, not even informing her till the last minute. Afraid of bad press, obviously. The Crisafulli government has a lot to answer for. Thanks for the great article.
superb article, thankyou!