North Korea, Iran, Burma... Marrickville

What does the desert theocracy of Saudi Arabia have in common with Marrickville Council in Sydney's inner west?

It's not I who's asking, it's the Australian Daily Telegraph.

Ever since a Marrickville Council meeting late last year, both are sworn enemies of Israel. In a 10-2 vote, the council decided that it would "boycott all goods made in Israel and any sporting, academic institutions, government or institutional cultural exchanges".

As an example of the boycotted goods the article presents Bar Refaeli:

I guess it's a legitimate and good example of what the Marrickville leaders are depraving their citizens of. I, personally, would rather spend a day (or even two) without Fatah than being depraved of Bar. And there is more to Marrickville Council than meets the eye:

Last year when a local shopkeeper painted an anti-burqa mural on his own wall, Marrickville Council finally found a piece of "street art" it didn't like. Councillor Sam Iskandar, thought to be the driving force behind the Israel boycott, said the mural "goes against the values" of the Marrickville community and tried to get it removed.

Quite... And even this is not the end:

It's a show of support for a tiny African nation nearly 20,000km away. Problem is, the country technically doesn't exist nor does the independence the council wants to celebrate. Marrickville Council will tonight decide whether to celebrate the national day of the Western Sahara by flying its flag over the town hall on February 27.

Whatever excites the Marrickville Council, I say. But for sheer entertainment value these folks bear watching...