Subscribe to our RSS feed.
Follow Us on TwitterJohn Bransby responds to Australia Post’s reply re Australia-Israel joint issue stamps 28Jun13 June 28, 2013
Dear Mr Wright,
Thank you for at least responding. However, the question that still remains unanswered is what on earth has this event got to do with Israel.
Australia Post claims the battle was part of a series of events leading ultimately to the establishment of the state of Israel. This is just not true and it implies Australian Light Horsemen at the Battle of Beersheba in 1917 were somehow part of a campaign to establish the state of Israel. It is nothing but a rewriting of history to suit the Zionist cause and is patently false.
It is appalling that Australia Post has allowed itself to be used as part of a Zionist propaganda campaign to rationalise the monstrous ethnic cleansing that has taken place as part of the process of Israel occupying Palestine. That occupation has resulted in millions of displaced Palestinian refugees being condemned to living their lives in squalid refugee camps, has included barbarous acts such as cluster bombing of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza, mass punishment of civilians in Gaza by denial of basic commodities, power restrictions and travel restrictions, the building of illegal walls, enacting a system of apartheid where indigenous people have lesser rights than Israelis based on race alone, many other acts of illegality, genocide and total non compliance with numerous UN resolutions.
Israel is a state that shows total disrespect for human rights and has for years effectively embarked on a process of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. How Australia Post could allow itself to be part of a propaganda campaign for the repugnant practices associated with Zionism is simply beyond comprehension.
Given these facts, I await your answer to the question of how Australia Post can justify any linking of the Battle of Beersheba to the state of Israel.
Yours sincerely,
John Bransby
On 26 June 2013 11:16, Wright, Nicholas wrote:
Dear Mr Bransby
I refer to your email of 21 June concerning our recent joint stamp issue with Israel Post commemorating the 1917 Battle of Beersheba.
At the outset it is important to observe that joint issue stamp releases between Universal Postal Union member nations are relatively common. Australia Post regularly receives requests and these are all considered under the same framework. Australia Post plans its philatelic schedule at least three years in advance to allow appropriate lead time for development.
To explain the background to this release, and the rationale for the selection of the subject matter I can advise that in 2009 Australia Post was approached by Israel Post with a request for a joint issue stamp release. Whilst the release was initially proposed for 2011, due to the practicality of scheduling, it was delayed until 2013 when it was timed to coincide with the World Stamp Expo in May.
In 2008 the Park of the Australian Soldier was opened in Beersheba. The Park features a statue of an Australian Light horseman by well-known Australian sculptor Peter Corlett. Australia Post considered that this statue recognised the contribution of Australian servicemen and, it featured on a previously planned stamp sheetlet that was sold in Israel and Australia later in 2008.
Accordingly, Australia Post chose to represent the statue on the recent 60c stamp. The $2.60 stamp in the issue features Australian Light horsemen at the Battle of Beersheba in 1917. This battle is widely considered to be the last successful mounted charge in military history and is also the subject of the statue.
Despite the action’s significance, it has not received as wide public recognition as other significant battles of World War I. Accordingly, a commemoration of the Australian soldiers who took part and the commemorative statue was deemed appropriate.
I would like to emphasise that it was not Australia Post’s intention to disrespect the memory of those who served in the engagement and to ensure the validity of the artwork Australia Post consulted with a number of key organisations.
Whilst I recognise that some of your concerns will remain I hope my explanation provides you with an understanding of the context of this stamp issue from Australia Post’s perspective.Yours sincerely
Nicholas Wright
Board and Shareholder Liaison
Australia Post
Corporate Secretariat & Government Affairs
GPO Box 1777 MELBOURNE VIC 3001
Thank You.
