Australia must arrest and investigate Israel’s genodical president Isaac Herzog should he enter the country.
Call your representatives to deliver this message and demand action.
Things to remember before making your call:
- Make it clear that you are a voter in the electorate your parliamentarian represents.
- Be clear and direct about the reason for your call.
- Don’t be afraid to make it personal, let your MP know how this issue and the governments lack of action makes you feel.
- Be polite and avoid explicit/ crude language. While it’s important to communicate your passion about the issue and/or frustration with the government, using harsh language may dissuade your MP from engaging with you.
- Clearly state the actions you want to see taken by your MP.
- Make it clear that their action/ inaction will determine how you vote in future elections.
- Other helpful resources
- Find your MP’s phone number here.
- Check out our MP Engagement toolkit here.
Report back to APAN on how you went here.
The script below is there to help you navigate your conversation, but remember to put your own spin on it, the most effective call is one that is personal.
Introduce yourself:
“Hi there, my name is __________ and I am a constituent of [electorate]. I’m calling as I have a request that I would like you to pass on to my representative [MP Name]. I would also like my representative to pass my request on to the Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
Explain what you’re calling about, and how it makes you feel:
“I’m calling today regarding the government’s decision to invite Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia. I am horrified and distrubed by the complicity of the Australian government in Israel’s ongoing genocide of Gaza and its illegal occupation of Palestine.”
“To see the Australian government invite Israeli President Isaac Herzog to visit Australia represents a serious moral failure and a direct insult to the hundreds of thousands of Australians who have spent more than two years protesting Israel’s ongoing genocide of Palestinian people.”
“I am appalled, given the findings from the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry that concluded President Herzog had publicly incited genocide. Those same statements were then cited by the International Court of Justice in its assessment of the real and imminent risk of genocide in Gaza.”
“I am alarmed by the government’s continual dismissal of the consensus by countless experts who unanimously find that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. I am also very worried by the government’s selective application of Australian and international law that obliges Australia to prevent, investigate and punish genocide.”
Explain what you want to see happen:
“At a bare minimum, Australia must fulfill its obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent, investigate and punish genocide, and actin accordance with Australian and international law by denying immunity or safe passage to individuals implicated in international crimes of this gravity.”
“I would like to understand why there has been no investigation or legal consideration of Australia’s obligations in relation to allegations of genocide and incitement by President Herzog.”
“The Attorney General should explain why this has not happened, and what legal basis there is to ignore Australia’s obligations.”
Make your ask:
“I would like answers to the two following questions:
- Whether Australians who have served with IDF are being investigated where there are credible allegations of war crimes
- What steps is Australia taking to meet our international obligations to prevent war crimes?
“I would like to ask that you take note of my message and ask [MP Name] to pass this message onto the Attorney-General on my behalf, immediately.”
“I will follow this phone call up with an email so that you have my request in writing.”
“I would also like for [MP Name] to respond to my request, and to contact me once the Attorney-General has replied.”
Issue your ultimatum:
“I will not stand by while the government dismisses Australian law and international law by hosting Israel’s genocidal President Isaac Herzog. Furthermore I refuse to accept Australia’s ongoing complicity in the Israeli genocide of Palestinian people in Gaza and its apartheid regime across Palestine.”
“The Australian government must take action in line with its own domestic criminal law and international law. This issue will unequivocally determine how I vote at the next election.”