The current conflict in Gaza reminded me of one of my poems called ‘Hath Not a Jew Eyes’. The title is a quote from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice and I was thinking of the terrible suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israelis when I wrote it. The poem questions the Zionist philosophy of Herzl and suggests that the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber offers a better model of reconciliation between Jews and Arabs.
Hath Not A Jew Eyes?’
Wall Street bankers ignite the GFC
And crawl from its ashes by dint of decree.
But ‘Hath not a Jew eyes?’ And eyes can see
As Zacchaeus saw from atop the Tree.
Modern Israel its painful birth recalls;
When Jews occupy indigenous land
And lock up Arabs behind ghetto walls,
Forcing them to rise up and make a stand.
But ‘Hath not a Jew eyes?’ And eyes can see
Like mystic Buber, who in I and Thou,
Speaks of Love’s oneness so intimately
And did Herzl’s apartheid disavow.
Such words would good Jesus say, as a Jew,
Who did always peace with justice pursue.
A C Fraser 18/11/22
Michael Griffith: Home Page- Literature and Life Spring 2025 
Thanks Andrew- a powerful and relevant piece! Thank you.
I think given Judith Wright’s own extreme sensitivity to violence and hatred, this poem does have a place in what we are discussing.
I will post it up.
Thank you !