Victoria’s Parliament stands by Israel
A motion "unequivocally condemn[ing] the attacks on Israel by Hamas" and honouring the 1400 victims of Hamas was overwhelmingly adopted 71-4 in Victorian Parliament this afternoon – with four Greens opposing it.
Community leaders and supporters of Israel assembled on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament today ahead of a motion in the Legislative Assembly mourning the more than 1400 victims of Hamas brutality who have been slaughtered in Israel.
Proposed by Premier Jacinta Allan and seconded by Liberal leader John Pesutto, the motion was overwhelmingly adopted, 71-4, with four Greens opposing it.
The motion asked that the Victorian Parliament “unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, which are the heinous acts of terrorists, and have encompassed the targeting and murder of civilians, including women and children, the taking of hostages, and indiscriminate rocket fire”.
Victoria’s Parliament “stands with Israel and recognises its inherent right to defend itself; condemns antisemitism and recognises that generations of Jewish people have been subjected to this hateful prejudice”.
The motion called for “the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages”.
It also stated that Parliament “recognises that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their legitimate needs and aspirations [and] acknowledges the devastating loss of Israeli and Palestinian life and that innocent civilians on all sides are suffering as a result of the attacks by Hamas and the subsequent conflict”.
Further, it affirmed “in the strongest possible terms that hateful prejudice has no place in Victoria”.
Before the motion was put, Allan and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll joined Caulfield MP David Southwick on the steps of Parliament.
Allan told the gathering of Jewish communal leaders, “We are putting politics aside to show our love, care and support for our Jewish community here in Victoria. You’re a strong community, you’re a proud community. You’re a community that I’ve felt so welcomed by.”That I’ve felt so welcomed by.”
Buoyed by the outpouring of support for Victorian Jews and for Israel in the motion, Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb stated, “To hear such vociferous condemnation of the atrocities committed against Israel and such a resounding expression of solidarity with both the Jewish State and the Jewish community proposed personally in Parliament by Victoria’s new Premier and seconded by the Opposition Leader is truly heartwarming and incredibly moving.”
Goldfarb said the Premier and Opposition Leader “have kept in constant contact with the Zionism Victoria team to express their concern and offer their support.
“We are also profoundly grateful to Member for Caulfield David Southwick who has worked tirelessly over the past 10 days to help us arrange the unprecedented solidarity events that have united the community and to rally politicians on both sides of Parliament to denounce Hamas and its actions, and uphold Israel’s right to defend itself.”
comments