1. Netanyahu
Malcolm Turnbull has penned an opinion piece strongly defending Israel and condemning the UN for passing resolutions criticising Israel. [The Australian]
This of course comes as Benjamin Netanyahu makes what will be the first visit by a sitting Israeli PM to Australia. [My report/Fairfax]
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Netanyahu arrives in Australia
Arriving amid controversy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offers warm comments ahead of his visit to meet with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. (Vision courtesy ABC News 24)
Labor leader Bill Shorten will confront Netanyahu over the expansion of settlements into the West Bank, announced since Donald Trump's inauguration. [Philip Coorey/Financial Review]
Labor Senator Sam Dastyari is chiding party elders, Kevin Rudd, Gareth Evans and Bob Hawke accusing them of focussing on Palestine over other issues in the Middle East. [Simon Benson/The Australian]
The Labor party's relationship with China was the focus of Michael Danby's attack on the trio. Danby, a Jewish MP from Victoria's right faction (to which Bill Shorten belongs) is a leading defender of Israel in the Australian parliament. He says the Labor "heroes" fall silent when it comes to China. [Adam Gartrell/Fairfax]
The government is keen to try and focus the visit on matters other than the Palestinian conflict. But Netanhayu is unlikely to escape questions about the lenient sentence of just 18 months jail given to an Israeli soldier convicted of killing a wounded Palestinian man in Hebron. [Reuters]
2. Aust politics
Labor's left is pushing for mandated minimum rate of tax for the super wealthy. The so-called "Buffett rule" would try and stop the rich from arranging their finances to reduce their tax obligations by forcing them to pay at least 35 per cent of their entire income in tax. [Heath Aston/Fairfax]
This push comes at a time when Labor's left has more power than ever before. As Mark Kenny points out, if Turnbull can be accused of being dragged to heel by the right, the same can be said for Shorten and the left. One to watch. [Fairfax]
Treasurer Scott Morrison with a lump of coal during question time. Photo: Andrew Meares
The government's attack on renewable energy and promotion of coal is failing with voters, Essential polling suggests. [Michelle Grattan/The Conversation]
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton says the first transfer of refugees from Manus Island and Nauru to the United States will begin in a couple of months. However the US may not take the 1250 it indicated it could take. [Michael Koziol/Fairfax]
Muslim leaders in Western Australia are urging their followers to vote against the Liberals in the state election because that would aid the growth of Pauline Hanson's One Nation (which proposes banning Muslim immigration). The Liberals have done a preference deal the fringe party. [Andrew Burrell/The Australian]
A push to have Alexander Downer return home and become leader of the South Australian Liberal party has failed, reports Philip Coorey. [Financial Review]
3. French politics
French police have arrested three people, accusing them of plotting a terrorist attack. [BBC]
A Lebanese communist protester holds a placard protesting against Le Pen's visit, in Beirut, Lebanon. Photo: AP
Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right Front National party, has refused to wear a headscarf to meet an Islamic leader in Lebanon and cancelled talks. Le Pen is also pledging to restore France's ties with Bashar al-Assad if elected President this year, describing the Syrian dictator as the "lesser evil." [Fairfax]
The leading French Presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron is in London and will hold a rally for 3,000 French voters at Westminister. [Jon Henley/The Guardian]
Lorde's 'Royals' playing on the warmup track for Macron's London rally. Long queue of French expats outside. Primrose Hill must be deserted pic.twitter.com/plw0QYJYin
— NickdMiller (@NickdMiller) February 21, 2017
Macron stood on the steps of Downing Street and urged thinkers to move to Paris after Brexit. Cheeky! [Sky News Britain]
4. Heterosexual couple can't be civil partners
A really interesting ruling in Britain by the Court of Appeal.
A London couple wanted to enter into a "civil partnership" as same-sex couples can because they don't feel a "marriage" is the best reflection of their relationship.
But the court says only couples of same-sex can be in a "civil partnership" meaning gay couples now have an extra relationship option denied to straight couples. [BBC]
5. Mosul
Iraqi police forces fire from a humvee at IS positions from a hillside near Mosul on Monday. Photo: AP
The Iraqi army has taken Abu Saif, a strategically important town, as they advance on western Mosul to take back the city from Islamic State.
The BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville is live-tweeting from Mosul and his account is gripping.
Highly recommend your follow. @sommervillebbc
Here an Islamic State permission slip for leave. He didn't make it. Now smeared with his blood. pic.twitter.com/YJgBWYImxM
— Quentin Sommerville (@sommervillebbc) February 21, 2017
6. Sara Connor
Sara Connor at Denpasar District Court on Tuesday. Photo: Alan Putra
Prosecutors in Bali have requested eight years jail for the Byron Bay mother-of-two Sara Connor over the death of an Indonesian policeman. Connor says she is innocent. Her boyfriend, David Taylor, has admitted to a confrontation with the deceased man but says he was acting in self-defence.
Our Indonesia correspondent Jewel Topsfield says Connor was visibly distressed on hearing the size of the sentence requested. [Amilia Rose/Fairfax]
And that's it from me today, you can follow me on Facebook for more.