Israel’s invasion of Lebanon with Omar Hassan

After a year of genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has now begun a ground invasion of Lebanon. In less than a week Israel has killed over 2000 people in Lebanon through massive bombardment of civilians in the capital of Beirut and a renewed offensive against the already devastated South. Israeli aggression and repeated military strikes on Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Iran have led the Middle East to the brink of all-out regional war.

This episode Chloe spoke to Omar Hassan, a Lebanese-Australian socialist and editor of the Marxist Left Review about the invasion of Lebanon, the threat of regional war and the history of Israeli aggression.

Omar touched on the role Israel has played as attack dog for US imperialism from the Suez Crisis invasion of Egypt in 1956 to the 18 year long Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon from 1982 to 2000.

This week the Australian Government, the NSW Police and the capitalist media have engaged in a massive smear campaign against the pro-Palestine anti-war movement. The NSW police unsuccessfully attempted to ban the rallies commemorating the 1 year anniversary of the genocide. Omar spoke about the hypocrisy and cynicism of the media as well as the role of Labor in supporting Israeli aggression and US imperialism.

Further reading:

https://redflag.org.au/article/by-attacking-lebanon-israel-seeks-to-expand-its-genocidal-war

https://redflag.org.au/article/israels-history-of-aggression-against-lebanon

Get involved with Victorian Socialists

https://victoriansocialists.org.au/candidates/omar-hassan

In one of the worst attacks on a union in Australian history, the Labor government has imposed a dictatorial administrator on the construction union, the CFMEU. This move has disenfranchised the union's entire membership. Chloe spoke to Jerome Small, ex-construction worker and reporter for Red Flag, about the causes and consequences of this unprecedented anti-union attack.

Further reading

"Labor set to impose dictatorial powers over construction union" by Jerome Small in Red Flag

"Strike shows stakes for Queensland CFMEU" by Duncan Hart in Red Flag

The Land Forces weapons expo is Australia's largest get-together and money-making opportunity for the booming business of war. When it came to Melbourne in September, activists from Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars protested the orgy of militarism and violence. In response, the Victorian police unleashed hell, firing rubber bullets and torrents of pepper spray at protestors. The media followed up with a barrage of lies about protestors, presenting anti-war peace activists as the violent thugs while cheering on extreme police violence.

Emma spoke to Bella Beiraghi, one of the protest organisers, to get an insider's perspective on the protest and its aftermath.

Further reading:

"Guardian fake news helps cops mobilise against anti-war activists" - by Anneke Demanuele in Red Flag

"Inside the Land Forces protest" - by Jerome Small in Red Flag