Another country who sees the difference between a democracy being terrorized, yet fighting back, and a dictatorship run by thugs and zealots:

Australia opposes a hearing on the security fence in the International Court of Justice at the Hague and plans to send a written argument to that effect to judges, the country's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told The Jerusalem Post at the Australia Day reception in Jerusalem Monday.

Israel's Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom lauded Australia as one of only eight countries that voted against the UN resolution to take the issue to the Hague.

"We are concerned that this case has the potential for the politicization of the International Court of Justice and could damage its credibility as a court," said Downer while on a 3-day visit to the country. "This is a political exercise, not a judicial exercise."

Though critical of the route of the security fence, which he said should follow the green line more closely, Downer indicated he understood the need for a fence in light of terrorist infiltrations.

"You can't ask the Israeli people to turn their back and do nothing," he said.
Earlier at a press briefing, however, he said the fence – even if only a temporary barrier – follows a provocative path and asked Israel to reconsider the route.

John Howard will be skewered for this, but that's what real leaders do, stick with their convictions.