Labor shame
The moves are equal parts arrogance and ignorance, seemingly calculated to appease Labor's socialist-left base and improve its electoral chances in inner city seats.
Israel and Australian Jewry have suffered a double blow at the hands of our government.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong hinted Australia may recognise a Palestinian state, days after appointing an overseer to Israel’s investigation into the tragic killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom in Gaza.
The moves are equal parts arrogance and ignorance, seemingly calculated to appease Labor’s socialist-left base and improve its electoral chances in inner city seats. The cynicism is repellent to those of us who expect our government to unite Australians rather than divide us.
Quite how Australia is meant to bring about a state which the Palestinians themselves have repeatedly rejected is not explained. While demanding to oversee Israel’s investigation demonstrates hypocrisy and hostility, broadcasting a humiliating message of distrust towards a democratic ally.
The killing of the seven aid workers in a catastrophic Israeli blunder was a tragedy. Israel’s swift action to assume responsibility is commendable.
Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seem to have conveniently forgotten the November 2020 Brereton report, which laid bare allegations of Australian forces’ deliberate murder of 39 Afghan civilians.
Their highly selective outrage starkly contrasts with their muted response to other grave incidents, including the cold-blooded murder of Australian citizen Galit Carbone by Hamas on October 7 and last week’s Hezbollah attack that injured an Australian UN peacekeeper.
The insistence on overseeing Israel’s investigation contrasts sharply with Australia restoring funding to UNRWA without even waiting for the results of a probe into its staff taking part in the Hamas massacre.
Put bluntly, our government’s response has been full of hostility and double standards at a time when its ally, locked in an existential fight against a bloodthirsty terrorist group, needs its support the most.
Labor’s actions have not only undermined Australia’s relationship with Israel but have inadvertently fuelled anti-Israel sentiment, which we know feeds into outright antisemitism.
Recognising a Palestinian state only emboldens Palestinian rejectionism and Hamas terror and can only be seen as a reward for the atrocities of October 7.
These disgraceful decisions are utterly shameful and our community can rightfully feel betrayed.
comments