Kazak was born in Haifa, Palestine, in 1947.
Kazak grew up in Syria as a Palestinian refugee. He and his mother were separated from his father when Israel was created in 1948 and were prevented from returning home. He did not see his father, who was living back in Haifa, for 48 years. In 1968, while at Damascus University, Kazak was invited to join the Palestine National Liberation Movement (Fateh) and joined its political wing. At the time the movement was underground, it is now the largest party within the PLO.
Kazak immigrated to Australia in 1970. He became active in pro-Palestinian Lobbying.
Kazak was the founder, publisher and co-editor of the Australian Newspaper Free Palestine (1979–90). He was also the publisher and editor of Background Briefing (1987–93), the book The Jerusalem Question (1997), which was translated into Portuguese and reprinted in Brazil, and the author of the book Australia and the Arabs (أستراليا والعرب, written in Arabic) in 2012, which was published by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, in Doha, Qatar. He also contributed a chapter in ‘Israel’s International Relations: Contexts, Tools, Success and Failures’ published in Arabic by MADAR (The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies) entitled ‘Israel’s Relations with Australia, New Zealand and the pacific region’. As well, he has written other booklets and publications on the Palestine question, and penned the Palestinian entry in the Encyclopedia of the Australian People put out by the Australian Government to commemorate Australia’s bicentennial in 1988. He also organised a number of Palestinian political and cultural exhibitions throughout Australia.
He was the founder and the driving force behind the establishment of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign on 30 May 1981 in a number of states in Australia (VIC, ACT, SA, WA and QLD) and in New Zealand's major cities, and other Palestinian community groups.
His activities in advocating for the Palestinian cause were recognised in 1981 with his appointment by the PLO Executive Committee as the PLO's representative to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
In 1982 he established the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Australia under the name of the Palestine Information Office, which was recognised by the Australian government in 1989 as the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and then further recognised in 1994 as the General Palestinian Delegation.
During a speaking tour of New Zealand in early 1982, Kazak met with the Foreign Minister Warren Cooper, which was the first official meeting with a PLO official by the NZ Government, and resulted in New Zealand’s recognition of the PLO. In 1982 Kazak led a delegation to the Middle East, comprising parliamentarians, clergy, academics and journalists from both Australia and New Zealand. It was the first-ever Arab-led delegation and was followed by other parliamentary delegations.
Kazak was the first Arab official to visit the South Pacific countries in 1985. He has been received by consecutive heads of governments, prime ministers and foreign ministers in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
His efforts were crucial in gaining recognition by the Republic of Vanuatu (1985), Papua New Guinea (1994) and East Timor (2004) of the State of Palestine and the establishment of full diplomatic relations with these countries. Kazak presented his credentials as the non-resident Ambassador of Palestine to the Republic of Vanuatu on 19 October 1989 and to the Democratic Republic of East Timor on 2 March 2004. He was also Ambassador-designate to Papua New Guinea (1994–2006).
Kazak was awarded the 20th Anniversary of Independence Medal by the president of Vanuatu, Rev. John Bani, on 30 July 2000, becoming the first Middle East ambassador to receive such an award throughout the Pacific and Australasian regions.
In May 1986 Kazak became the first person to call for adjudication by the Australian Press Council of untrue and stereotyped reporting of Palestinians by an Australian media outlet. The case was upheld by the Press Council in its adjudication of 27 August 1986. This was followed by other cases in which the Palestinian people were vilified by the media.
Kazak has presented three comprehensive submissions to the first, second and third inquires of the Federal Parliament's Human Rights Sub-Committee in 1992/93, 1993/94 and 1998/99 respectively, as well as a further submission to the Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee’s inquiry in 2000 on Australia’s relations with the Middle East. He has also been invited to appear at the committee's public hearings.
He has addressed and represented Palestine at numerous national and international conferences and forums. He was also invited to speak at international forums such as the (United Arab) Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research’s symposium ‘Australia and the Arab World’ in 2009, and has written articles in the mainstream Australian and international media. Kazak has appeared on national and international television and radio programs.
Kazak played a major role in obtaining the release of NZ hostages captured by the Iraqi army in Kuwait in 1990 and taken to Baghdad.
In the late 1990s Kazak initiated the establishment of the NSW State Parliamentary Friends of Palestine group (1998), the Australian Federal Parliamentary Friends of Palestine (1999), the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Palestine (2002) and the South Australia Parliamentary Friends of Palestine (2003) and the New Zealand Parliamentary Friends of Palestine (1999).
Following the Declaration of Principles in 1993, Mr Kazak was able to return to Haifa in June 1995. He was reunited with his father for the first time in 48 years.
The Sydney Morning Herald
“Middle East needs Israeli goodwill”, The Sydney Morning herald, 8.9.1993, P. 19.
“Time for Israel to act”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 10.11.1995, P.12.
“Time for the US to put an end to double standards”, Sunday Times, 1.3.1998
“There is only one peaceful option”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 6.4.1999
“No peace for Israel without a fair settlement for refugees”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16.1.2001
“Vote now to bring Palestine into UN”, The Sydney Morning Herald, 4.10.2011, P. 11 (Also printed in The Age and all major newspapers around Australia)
The Australian
“A cry to be free in Israel, Palestinians fight for a homeland and against Israel’s ‘final solution’”, The Australian, 26.2.1988, P. 9.
“Israel the spanner in Middle East machine”, The Australian, 23.2.1993
“Israel settles on more tension and violence”, The Australian, 3.3.1997
“Why there is no alternative to an independent Palestine”, The Australian, 18.11.1998
“Israel is not above law”, The Australian, 23.7.2014,
The Age
“Subjugation cannot be tolerated any longer”, The Age, 10.3.1988
“Why PLO did not condemn Iraq”, The Age, 2.10.1990
“Racism is not so easily rescinded as a UN vote”, The Age, 23.12.1991
“Israel obliged to act on all extremists”, The Age, 11.11.1995, P. A23.
“Israel’s threat to achieving real peace”, The Age, 5.9.2005, P.13.
The Financial Review
“Israel, Palestinian conflict is not PR duel”, The Financial Review, 20.11.1990, P.19.
The Canberra Times
“The real Gulf crisis still festers”, The Canberra Times, 11.3.1991
“Australia is out of step with world”, The Canberra Times, 26.7.1993, P.11.
“It’s time for Australia to review attitudes on the Middle East”, The Canberra Times, 29.10.1996
“Peace overtures meet violence in Palestine”, The Canberra Times, 17.12.2001
The Advertiser
“Palestinians’ 20 years of subjugation and misery”, The Advertiser, 23.3.1988
“The West must act to bring true peace to Middle East”, The Advertiser, 25.5.2001
The Melbourne Herald
“A response to the question – What Australia means to you?”, The Melbourne Herald, 20.1.1988
Herald Sun
“Put the heat on Israel”, Herald Sun, 30.9.1996
“Hero or Villain?”, Sunday Herald Sun, 7.11.2004, P. 43.
Arena Magazine
“Palestine-partition politics, It’s time for Australia to take a more independent political stance on Palestine”, Arena Magazine, February–March 1997
“Scapegoating and Scaremongering”, Arena Magazin, December–January 2005-06, P. 23
“In search of a Just Peace”, Arena Magazine, February–March 2005, P. 13-14.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
“Put Australia on the right side of history”, ABC webpage - The Drum Opinion-, 3.10.2011
“Justice, not Deceit, will achieve Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Response to Alan Johnson”, ABC Religion and Ethics, 31.07.2015.
Aurora
“Pope John Paul II’s Visit to the Holy Land Palestine”, Aurora, August/September 2000
Australian Muslim Times
“Israeli arracks on Lebanon”, Australian Muslim Times, 6.8.1993, P.14.
“What after Gaza-Jericho?”, Australian Muslim Times, 17.9.1993
Australian Muslim News
“Yitzhak Rabin & Jewish Extremism”, Australian Muslim News, 4.12.1995, P.1.
The Middle East Times
“Hypocrisy and double standards will not bring peace”, The Middle East Times, October 2004, P. 5.
Australian Rationalist
“Who is responsible – the Jews of the Zionists?”, Australian Rationalist, Spring 2004, P. 27-31.
Australian Options
“Justice is the path to peace”, Australian Options, Autumn 2002
Peace Courier
“Time for Israel to act”, Peace Courier, Nov-Dec 1995
Broadside
“Palestine – Why does nothing change?”, Broadside, 27.1.1993
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
“Peace buried under ‘colonised’ Palestinian land”, South china Morning Post, 28.12.2001
The Jakarta Post (Indonesia)
“The true colors of Israel’s Palestine policy”, The Jakarta Post, 19.10.2005, P.7.
Pakistan Observer (Pakistan)
Arafat a sumbol of freedom struggle, Pakistan Observer, 18.10.2004
Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Who Is Responsible — the Jews or the Zionists?, Arab News, Wednesday, 28, July, 2004
Double Standard Will not Bring Peace to Middle East, Arab News, Saturday, 9, October, 2004, P. 13.
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied, Arab News, Friday, 10, December, 2004
One Rule for Lebanon and Quite Another for Palestine, Arab News, Monday, 14, March, 2005
Fighting Terror: We Need to Deal With Underlying Causes, Factors, Arab News, Sunday, 17, July, 2005
Israel Working Against the Spirit of Two-State Solution, Arab News, Saturday, 3, September, 2005
Australia's Middle East Policy: Biased in Favor of Israel, Arab News, Saturday, 12, April, 2008
Al-Ahram Weekly (Egypt)
“Questions of responsibility”, Al-Ahram Weekly, 14–20 October 2004
“A state is not a war”, Al-Ahram Weekly 4–10 March 1999
Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates)
“Israel learns no lesson from failed bids to crush Palestinian’ spirit”, Khaleej Times, 19.12.2000
“Returne of refugees essential to Palestinian faith in peace”, Khaleej Times, 17.1.2001
“World must rein in Ariel Sharon before it is too late”, Khaleej Times, 2.4.2001
“Collapse of Mid-east peace process suits Sharon’s strategic objectives”, Khaleej Times, 3.5.2001
“Discrimination on basis of race an open secret of Israel’s state policy”, Khaleej Times, 8.9.2001
“Logic of war driving Israel’s cruel strategy of collective punishment”, Khaleej Times, 15.12.2001
“Israeli fence: a wall of deprivation”, Khaleej Times, 4.11.2003
“Talk about credibility”, Khaleej Times, 18.2.2003
“How Sharon rips apart roadmap”, Khaleej Times, 17.4.2004
“Palestinian children and Jewish state”, Khaleej Times, 27 April 2004
“No right to return?”, Khaleej Times, 5.12.2004
“Occupation, not Arafat, obstructs peace”, Khaleej Times, 15.11.2004
“It’s Israeli occupation, stupid”, Khaleej Times, 23.3.2005
“It's Western policies that feed Muslim extremism”, Khaleej Times, 14.7.2005
“The Gaza pullout: How we fail to see the big picture”, Khaleej Times, 3.9.2005
“Compromising Australia’s national interests”, Khaleej Times, 4.4.2008
“For enduring peace”, Khaleej Times, 28.2.2006
Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)
“Time to shun double standards”, Gulf News, 16.2.1998
Emirates News (United Arab Emirates)
“Israel destroys peace process”, Emirates News, 30.9.1996
Jordan Times (Jordan)
“Australia should lead and finally recognize the state of Palestine”, Jordan Times, 29.10.1996
“Two choices for peace”, Jordan Times, 10.1.2001
The Jerusalem Times (Palestine)
“Transparent intentions”, The Jerusalem Times, 18.10.1996
“Australia and the Zionist lobby”, The Jerusalem Times, 29.11.1996
“Jewish extremists should be held accountable”, The Jerusalem Times, 10.11.1995
Al-Fajr (Palestine)
“The Gulf crisis: Where the PLO stands”, Al-Fajr, 3.9.1990, P.4.
“Urgent need to address Palestinian question”, Al-Fajr (Palestine), 1.4.1991, P.8.
Palestine (PLO information bulletin)
“The Palestinian uprising, A Cry to be Free”, Palestine, 1.6.1988, P. 22-23.
“Dispossessed with my People”, Palestine, 1.9.1987, P. 12-14
Palestine Media Center
Ali Kazak: “Who is Responsible- the Jews or the Zionists?”, Palestine Media Center, 17.8.2004
Al majdal
Who is responsible – the Jews or the Zionists?, Al majdal, Spring 2005, P. 52-54
The Palestine Monitor
“Occupation, not Arafat, obstructs peace”, The Palestine Monitor, 11.11.2003
“Bad Fences Make Bad Neighbors”, The Palestine Monitor, 28.10.2003
EB Benador Associates Public Relations (USA)
“Who is Responsible – the Jews or the Zionist?, Benador Associates, 28.7.2004
Middle East Monitor
“Palestinian refugees, and the day following the failure of the negotiations?”, Middle East Monitor, 21.8.2013
CouterPunch
“The Missing Component in Defeating Terrorism”, 9.9.2014
The Palestine Chronicle
“Jewish State and Islamic State, Like Breeds Like”, CouterPunch, 16.9.2014
“White Australia’s Foreign Affairs Policy – Why Israel is Not China”, 25.9.2016
On Line Opinion
“Anti-Islam: is history repeating itself?”, On Line Opinion, 27.2.2013
“How is Wilders different to these?”, On Line Opinion, 8.3.2013
Dissident Voice
“What is the Israeli Lobby in Australia Doing in Interfaith Dialogue?”, Dissident Voice, 11.10.2015
AlternativeNews.Org (AIC)
“Israeli lobby exploits Australia's interfaith dialogue”, 11.10.2015
Other
Working paper submitted to the United Nations Meeting of representatives of national institutions and organizations promoting tolerance and harmony and combating racism and racial discrimination, organized by the Centre for Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney 19–23 April 1993
Al-Bairaq – البيرق (Australia)
.الأبوريجينالز أول الأستراليين"، البيرق، 17.8.1993 ، ص. 10 - The Aborigines, the First Australians”
Al-Teleghraph – التلغراف (Australia)
.علاقة أستراليا مع فلسطين سياسة بحاجة للتوازن"، التلغراف، 15.11.1996، ص. 5"
.إعادة طباعة المقال من جريدة الأستراليان في صحيفة التلغراف، 27.11.1998
“Why there is no alternative to an independent Palestine”, The Australian, 18.11.1998
.مسؤولية أميركا في انهيار عملية السلام"، التلغراف، 28.5.1997، ص. 6"
Al-Nahar - النهار (Australia)
.مباحثات السلام الفلسطينية-الإسرائيلية وإعلان الدولة الفلسطينية"، النهار، 23.2.1999"
.سياسة نتنياهو تقود المنطقة إلى الهاوية"، جريدة النهار، 3.7.1997، ص. 25"
Al-Ayyam- جريدة الأيام(Palestine)
.مفهوم السلام الإسرائيلي" 28 تشرين الثاني (نوفمبر) 2007"
.الـمطلوب إعادة تقييـم شامل للـمسيرة فلسطينياً وعربياً ودولياً" 6 شباط (فبراير) 2006"
.علاقة أستراليا مع فلسطين: سياسة بحاجة للتوازن"، الأيام، 7.11.1996، ص. 11"
.في مواجهة السياسة العدوانية الأمريكية"، الأيام، 17.5.1997، ص. 9"
AlQuds – القدس جريدة (Palestine)
.دور المواطن العربي"، جريدة القدس، 3/5/2001، ص 15"
Majallat al-Derasat al-Falasiniyah مجلة الدراسات الفلسطينية - (Lebanon)
سياسة أستراليا تجاه فلسطين وإسرائيل والعالم العربي"، مجلة الدراسات الفلسطينية، العدد 55 صيف 2003، ص 53-65
قائمة المحتويات - مؤسسة الدراسات الفلسطينية – المجلة
Falasteen Al-thaora – مجلة فلسطين الثورة(Lebanon)
ساعة الباطل استغرقت 200 عام – عودة الشعب الأبوريجيني الأسترالي إلى الحياة.. أقدم السكان وأعرق الثقافات"، مجلة فلسطين الثورة، 12.9.1993، ص. 10-12.
"تطور السياسة الأسترالية ازاء فلسطين"، مجلة فلسطين الثورة، 6.9.1992، ص. 24-26
Al-Quds Al-Arabi – القدس العربي(England)
إعادة وحدة مصر والسودان هو الجواب والحل” 2010-06-10"
القدس العربي، "خطة أمريكية تفوح منها رائحة عنصرية"، 12.1.2014
القدس العربي، " حق العودة خطّ رُسم بالدم الأحمر لا يمكن تجاوزه"، 20.12.2013
Al Sharq Al Awsa جريدة الشرق الأوسط - (England & Saudi Arabia)
.سياسة أستراليا بحاجة للتوازن"، الشرق الأوسط، 27.11.1996"
.إستسلام الفلسطينيين ..المنطق الحاكم الآن في إسرائيل"، جريدة الشرق الأوسط، 15.7.1997"
.مسؤولية أمريكا في إنهيار عملية السلام"، الشرق الأوسط، 4.6.1997، ص. 17"
Alyaom Alsabea – مجلة اليوم السابع (France)
السياسة الأسترالية في الشرق الأوسط - الكلام الجميل للعرب والتأييد الفعلي لإسرائيل"، مجلة اليوم السابع، 25.1.1988، ص. 8-9.
Almustaqbal – مجلة المستقبل (France)
.اطلبوا اللبناني ولو في ...الصين"، مجلة المستقبل، 14.11.1981، ص. 88-89"
.هل تكون أستراليا حصان طروادة الأميركي؟"، مجلة المستقبل، 25.7.1981، ص. 14"
Teshree جريدة تشرين - (Syria)
"كيف نتصدى لإنحيز الولايات المتحدة المستمر إلى جانب "إسرائيل" وما هي مسؤولية الأحزاب والنقابات والمنظمات العربية"، صحيفة تشرين، 10.5.2001، ص 10
Al Khaleej جريدة الخليج -( United Arab Emirates)
.حتى مملكة البوتان يا عرب"، جريدة الخليج، 4.4.2008"
.المصالحة في ظل الإحتلال والعنصرية"، جريدة الخليج، 4.3.2008"
.الكرة في الملعب العربي"، جريدة الخليج، 1.3.2006"
.دور المواطن العربي"، جريدة الخليج، 1.5.2001، ص 16"
.اللاجئون الفلسطينيون مفتاح السلام"، جريدة الخليج، 18.12.1999"
