Shades of Terra Nullius, Curious Invitations, Investigations and Genocide

Insanity

What will it take for our leaders to see the light, to shake them out of their ivory towers?

On Monday morning, 9 February 2026 we face the utter insanity of a State visit by Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, the bloke who signs his name in a public spectacle on outer shells of missiles dispatched to Gaza, many of which have killed children. More than 21,000 children have been slaughtered by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in the last two years according to UNICEF, and targets have commonly massacred women and children, sometimes almost exclusively, though Israel denies it. As of February 2026, the recorded death toll in Gaza has exceeded 72,000 civilians, very few of whom can be verified as HAMAS, but the actual loss of lives is widely considered to be significantly higher, due to thousands missing under rubble and indirect deaths from mass starvation and disease.

The entire Gaza strip has been practically raised to the ground and approximately 2.2 million Palestinians permanently displaced without homes, of whom nearly half (47%) are estimated to be children. Hospitals, schools and entire public infrastructure have been targeted and destroyed with virtually no water supply, power or sanitation. Borders have been predominantly closed for two years, starving an entire population of critical provisions, food and first aid, causing man-made famine. Citizens of numerous countries including Australia – health care professionals, aid workers, journalists charities, NGOs and United Nations staff have been targeted and killed by the IDF to prevent food and emergency health care reaching the people of Gaza. Gaza has become unliveable, the entire population trapped in a war ghetto, an illegal siege under international law, and despite a 4 month old ceasefire, dozens of Palestinians continue be slaughtered each day by the Israeli war machine (IDF), much of which now goes unreported – It is nothing short of State sponsored terrorism and genocide.

The Governor General, Sam Mostyn under the direction of our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese (both) thought it a noble cause, an act of humanity and compassion – saw fit to invite Isaac Herzog, President of Israel to Australia on a State visit to Parliament, shake hands with our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and meet with selective members of the ‘Jewish’ community mourning the 15 victims of the Bondi terror attack. That in some strange and miraculous way he’d be able to console the families in their grief at the hands of the two men from a trouble spot in India, father and son who tragically gunned down a group of Australian citizens with Jewish background and heritage. Not so much an act of antisemitism, as a single act of two men’s rage and possibly it has been alleged ISIS inspired, but don’t count Mossad out of this twisted plot just yet.

Anthony Albanese will meet with Isaac Herzog, host and honour his visit in matters of State on some blind belief that any good can come from this, while Israel continues to pound the hell out of the broken ruins of Gaza with ongoing loss of life every day, with no end in sight. Netanyahu, meanwhile has done nothing but hurl abuse and insults at Australia and the Prime Minister, blaming Australians for the Bondi attacks and rising antisemitism, despite absolutely no evidence to link either Australians or rising levels of antisemitism to the Bondi attacks, which were entirely due to two ‘non-Australians’ going on a wild rampage, hitherto what drove them or influences from outside Australia remain unknown, since no investigation has been concluded at this time. Yet the political establishment’s response was unceremoniously swift to weaponize this event and dismiss the unimaginable longstanding suffering of Gaza.

Isaac Herzog on the other hand it seems, with his loose hands, missile signing capabilities and public rants blaming all Palestinians (including children) for the 7th October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel and the hostage crisis by HAMAS just ended, and stands accused of inciting genocide, as President of Israel, Head of State – it is utterly absurd that he is not somehow involved nor in any way responsible for the mass genocide that has unfolded at his feet under the direct operational mission and leadership of Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Both Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Galant have been issued arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity on 21 November 2025.

Does the Head of State have no responsibility for the actions of its country and military in matters of such grave concern? Is there not the slightest hint of concern, duty or obligation for a Head of State to take Constitutional or corrective action on behalf of the people of Israel? If not what is the purpose of the President, to just sit, smile and look on, rub his hands in glee like Emperor Nero or indeed Pontius Pilate, when his nation is on fire – well another nation least of all at the bloody brutal hands of his own? Et tu (Brute) Isaac? A bloody brute he is and that does not begin to describe the 2.2 million in Gaza suffering, without even a mention of Palestinians in the West Bank and their affliction under modern day apartheid, brutality and loss of homelands at the hands of mercenary Israeli settlers and government sanctioned, orchestrated State oppression over the past 80 years.

Instead, the Governor General of Australia and Prime Minister, see this man, Isaac Herzog fit to be invited and received on a State visit, rolling out the red carpet, with full diplomatic immunity, Parliamentary privilege and reception, to share in the grief and mourning of families of the dead from the Bondi attack on 14 December 2026. No such respect for loss of life in or at the hands of Israel has been afforded in the Middle East.

What of the 21,000 children and 72,000 people of Gaza slaughtered by his compatriots for whom he is ultimately responsible? Who will grieve for them? Do they even get buried except in concrete rubble and shallow unmarked graves? Do we even get to hear about it today in our daily government and media frenzy and obsession with Bondi since 14th December last year including a national day of mourning – nothing of the likes has ever been declared for deaths in custody or colonial massacres of indigenous populations in the past in Australia?

Shouldn’t Herzog be arrested under the ICC ruling, UN Charter or Geneva Convention? But no our government (Federal and State), the Australian Federal and NSW Police don’t have the stomach for it, not even the government lawyers are scrambling to examine where they stand, after all the Governor General, the King’s man in Australia has spoken and invited him to the Ball, while the King has enough troubles of his own. The King’s men and crown, the Federal and NSW police are more concerned in chasing peaceful, law abiding citizens with conscience and sense of justice in the streets, silencing and arresting them. It’s far, far easier to blame and silence them than to do their duty and protect us from the abuse we receive in our country at the behest of a foreign dignitary, government and power.

Chris Minns, Premier of NSW once again on his holy mission to stamp out dubious and misconstrued antisemitism, get people off the streets, outlaw and prevent peaceful protests for political ends – the Zionist lobbies have wielded such extraordinary power over our Federal and State elected governments, which alone would warrant a Commission or National Inquiry. Seems he has taken a leaf out of the books of Minneapolis and Tel Aviv. Like a heat seeking missile, he knows all too well how to weaponize antisemitism, tragedy, grief and the NSW Police. He has already invoked special powers to the NSW Police under the excuse of safety declaring Isaac’s Herzog’s visit a major event under the Major Events Act 2009. While there is no question of not remaining calm, it impinges on basic civil rights to protest such brazen political acts given so many people’s legitimate and deep concerns regarding Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza were known in the face of an ill-conceived State visit. This is the very behaviour along with this insane visit from the violent rogue State of Israel that raises the spectre of both antisemitism and serious distrust of Zionism than any other factor, and there is well documented history through the ages to demonstrate this morbid coercive relationship.

United Nations Convention on Genocide – what would history say?

Chris Sidoti, former Human Rights Commissioner and member of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has called on the government to withdraw the invitation because of a genocide case against Israel in the international court of justice and unlawful occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Australia is a 1945 founding member of the United Nations. Australia was one of a small number of countries which ratified the UN Convention on the prevention and punishment of the Crime of Genocide on 8 July 1949. That Convention came into force on 12 January 1951, so Australia is a contracted signatory and party.

The UNHRC has declared that the State of Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Having ratified the Convention Australia is obliged to undertake and enact, in accordance with their respective Constitutions, the necessary legislation to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention, and, in particular, to provide effective penalties for persons guilty of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III.

Article III provides that the following acts shall be punishable: (a) Genocide; (b) Conspiracy to commit genocide; (c) Direct and public incitement to commit genocide; (d) Attempt to commit genocide; (e) Complicity in genocide.

In failing to undertake the arrest of President Herzog when he arrives in Australia, the Australian Government will be in breach of its solemn commitment and duty as a contractual party to the UN Convention.

What was the Governor General and PM of Australia thinking, did they do their research or the minions at their disposal? Didn’t they have the slightest inkling of a conscience or sense of duty that this was a really stupid idea to invite the President of Israel, at this time or at any time at all given the execution of the spitting heads of Zion’s grand master plan in the Middle East? Did they not recall the masses of Australians gathered on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and every capital city late last year, while Chris Minns in NSW raced to the courts to shut us all up and close the peaceful right to protest down? Most disturbing of all since when do he and our Prime Minister take orders from the Zionist Jewish lobby groups in Australia, aren’t they supposed to represent the people of Australia? What was this Governor and PM thinking?

Echoes of Governor General, Sir John Kerr and Gough Whitlam, November 1975, we’ve been here before, but this is not about supply, this is about sovereignty, representation of the people, this is about integrity of our Democracy and Constitution, what Australians fought for in two World Wars, a matter of far more grievous concern than a bill to pay the bills. What we have here is a serious Constitutional crisis and Anthony Albanese either asleep at the wheel or whistled down by a bunch of Netanyahu bullies and Zionists or else.

If Churchill, Menzies or Curtin had invited Hitler to Westminster or Sydney in 1941/2, what would history have said? What would the people of Australia have thought? What would the world be thinking? Australia kowtows to bullies and thieves, and we can’t be taken seriously, we have no sense of morality, conscience, justice, freedom or fair play, no integrity. We cannot stand our ground. We are therefore fair game to any of the bigger boys, the superpowers, and we know already how they push us around, USA no exception. And that is how we too will be treated when push comes to shove – because in the end we don’t give a shit as long as we are left alone – we might as well not exist.

Something Penny Wong said

‘I really do understand the depth of feeling about this visit, the depth of feeling in the community about what we’ve seen in Gaza, which is why we’ve been so clear about working, we’re pressing for peace with others in the international community for civilians to be protected and for aid to flow,’ she said.

Wong told ABC radio it was appropriate for Israel’s head of state to meet with Australian Jews after the 14th December shooting. Really!

‘I have said previously that Israel will be judged by the international court of justice on its compliance with the genocide convention. And I’ve also said previously that it must accept its responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza,’ she said.

Now I realise Penny Wong is not the Prime Minister, who has waffled and gobbled his job away on this one, but honestly this is not the brightest moral or reasoned argument I’ve heard coming from Penny Wong, who up till recent times has been doing an admirable job as Minister for Foreign Affairs and leader of the Senate. Perhaps she should be the Prime Minister, but not when she speaks like this. Has she been muzzled by an embarrassed, conflicted or dissonant Prime Minister, the Party faithful or is it that Zionist mob with their cunning smell for fresh blood and a good pinch of ideology, racism, nepotism and hatred?

Australia is a living part of the United Nations and upholds rulings of the ICC and ICJ, and I have heard Penny Wong say as much in the past. As said here, Australia is a contractual signatory to the UN and convention on genocide. Are we to make glib and mindless repetitive statements like this in the face of what’s happened, and hope God will descend with his commandments from Mount Sinai with the solution carved on a pair of tablets for the UN and ICC to have its voice be heard and followed? Or are we to do what the USA and Israel do, like golden calves worship the ground that Netanyahu and Trump walk on, disobey, undermine and insult the very rules that were agreed by nations around the world 75 years ago to ensure we’d never repeat the mistakes and failings that led to two world wars and the Holocaust – God forbid it is the children of Israel that are now responsible for, with America’s lethal weapons of war and blessings!

Where is our sovereignty, dignity, reason, legal and moral duty? What did we do with our heads? I fear we buried them in the great sandy desert for the past couple of years somewhere near Pine Gap, waiting in the wilderness for the forked lightning and thunder bolt from heaven – alas it never came.

‘We have the Australian Jewish community who have been targeted in an overtly antisemitic terrorist attack. We have had 15 Australians die, we have families mourning, and this was a request from the Jewish community for President Herzog to visit,’ she said.

Did Penny Wong speak with the Jewish Council of Australia? Who exactly from the Jewish community did this request for President Herzog to visit come from, because I don’t think the JCA were too impressed? Did anyone speak with the Muslim or Arab community, who have been both directly and indirectly seriously affected, threatened and blamed? What about the local Indigenous community, the Gadigal, Birrabirragal, and Bidjigal people – did anyone think to speak with them? That would have been rather novel, since they have been living on ‘Bondi’ lands for thousands of years, a darn sight longer than Netanyahu, Herzog and their kin in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, or indeed anyone today who lives, surfs and congregates on the shores of Eastern Sydney. I doubt anyone from the Minns or Albanese government listened to them.

Herzog will not mourn for the children of Palestine nor Israel, but he will find a reason to stick his oar in the local and domestic affairs of Australia on this cunning visit and business of mourning in Sydney and politics in Canberra that don’t concern him, unless it happens to be a Zionist cause (see previous – Black Fog where this distinction is discussed).

The defence minister, Richard Marles, said Herzog would be a ‘welcome and honoured guest’. Well bless Richard’s cotton-dromedary socks, I’m blowed. So he is after all due for the red carpet treatment, stained with the blood of 72,000 Palestinian civilians we’ve already forgotten about, minus a few HAMAS terrorists that got blown up in the bombardment and deluge. Richard Marles you do your fellow Australians no respect or ears, the people you swore to serve. It didn’t take you very long to lose the plot with your boots knee deep in debt with AUKUS and up Trump’s clacker, now Herzog and Netanyahu too.  We see very clearly now where Labor’s interests lie – Not with us.

Opposition frontbencher James Paterson called moves by Labor MPs to oppose the visit ‘appalling’. Well James, is that the unofficial or authorised version? I am indeed appalled, not by them but you. You never fail to get your piece in as the spokesman for whom exactly? Your party is in disarray, you have lost your best mates in a pathetic spat, and you bring your ‘holier than thou’ decrees and self-righteous entitlements in support of privilege, Zionism and other undeclared fundamentalist interests, not I’d venture, in the hearts and minds of ordinary fair minded Australians.

He further said, ‘It seems extraordinary to me and frankly an act of bad faith and a terrible gesture towards the Australian Jewish community that we can’t even have the President of the Jewish State of Israel come to Australia after Bondi for a memorial, for the purposes of providing comfort to the Australian Jewish community, without Labor MPs publicly running it down and attacking it.’

Well, an extraordinary petulant outrage from him, but first of all my question to Mr Paterson, ‘Is that what you think this is about or what you believe we think this is about, or indeed why, when and how he got to be invited?’ I see you bring good and bad faith into it and terrible gestures too, but why do we need the President of the ‘Jewish’ State of Israel here in Australia after Bondi for a memorial – is he a counsellor, a mental health worker, a pastor, a rabbi? Is he even a friendly sort of bloke who’d know how to comfort your grandma, because quite frankly any bloke who goes around on ‘missile stops’ signing bombs as special envoys for the 53,000 children of Gaza killed or maimed, 610,00 displaced, and 1.1 million children who now require mental health and psychosocial support due to extreme trauma, doesn’t sound like the kind of bloke any sane person would invite to comfort someone in another country. Unless you really don’t like your grandma it’s quite bizarre. He has no business being here and it is in bad faith and poor taste you’d fire off your projectiles at Labor MPs who clearly have a conscience, not blind faith or agnostic, a lobby group or IPA ideologue like you – but a conscience, a mind for the common good of many, and compassionate hearts.

The elephant in Parliament House on both sides of the room

In the case of the suffering of Gaza:

Casualties and Missing Children (UNRWA)

• Killed: Reports from late 2025 and early 2026 indicate that over 20,000 children have been killed since October 2023.
• Injured: At least 33,000 children have been reported injured.
• Missing or Separated: An estimated 21,000 children are missing, which includes approximately 17,000 who are unaccompanied or separated from their families and 4,000 believed to be buried under rubble.
• Orphaned: More than 39,000 children have been orphaned by the war.

Living Conditions and Health (UNCEF)

• Displacement: Over 610,000 children have been displaced, many multiple times, often living in overcrowded tents with no access to clean water or electricity.
• Malnutrition: Approximately 335,000 children under five are at high risk of severe malnutrition.
• Education: The war has left 625,000 children out of school, with nearly all educational infrastructure damaged or destroyed.
• Mental Health: UNICEF Australia estimates that nearly all 1.1 million children in Gaza now require mental health and psychosocial support due to extreme trauma.

Now if that still falls on deaf ears, it has become our concern and distress too, because the people of Australia have made it very clear where they stand in very large numbers. They spoke on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in every capital city, they have spoken a thousand times over the past two years, the whole World has spoken with the exception of a few rogue States and dictatorship. There is no legitimate excuse for what Israel has done and continues to do in Gaza and the West Bank, and there is absolutely no reason at all for the Governor General and Prime Minster’s insane invitation, and this government’s current course to roll out the red carpet for perpetrators of ‘alleged’ genocide (and everyone knows it) – a spade is a spade, and perverse, jealous and vengeful gods are exactly like that.

Is this how we are to be in the world?

As for our government, when it comes to this, I say again ‘don’t do it’. Uninvite the President of Israel otherwise you will ulimately face the people, history will not think well of you in times to come, and the people of Gaza – what shall become of them?

If this dreadful excuse for a human being does still come and it’s all too late because you wouldn’t listen, I for one will not be there to greet him nor do you speak for me and the millions of other Australians – for this is not how we want to be in this world. And the many who will be there, you can be sure it won’t be to welcome him with open arms or roll out the red carpet, only a damn fool would do that. So what will it take for our leaders to see the light, for those who don’t believe in miracles? How many more lives will be needlessly lost instead of this eternal pampering to bullies, because the killing won’t stop, and neither will this man’s presence in Australia stop the senseless slaughter.

And gosh I nearly forgot, that tiny little matter that keeps coming up on 26th January every year – Shades of Terra Nullius float before my eyes before and after. Go ask someone whose ancestors have lived in Palestine for thousands of years how they feel – from one nation to another. Listen to what the children have to say – ‘Suffer them not, to come to me’.

You came not to listen

or make peace,

not to grieve or comfort,

not for compassion or diplomacy.

You did not come in good faith

to shake the hand of God –

when so many children

lie scattered all about.

Also by Jon Chesterson:

Black Fog – If We Can’t Think for Ourselves: Must We Muzzle and Bastardise Tertiary Education and Our Public Institutions?

Following article: Ghosts of Albanese 9 February 2026

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