Wong condemns terrorist attack amid Greens Israel criticism barrage
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday that “terrorism and violence against civilians can never be justified” after four Israelis were killed in a terrorist attack in the West Bank overnight.
The four Israelis were at a restaurant adjacent to a petrol station outside the settlement of Eli when a pair of Palestinian terrorists opened fire, killing them and injuring four others. One of the terrorists was shot dead at the scene by an armed Israeli civilian, while the second fled and was killed some two hours later by special forces.
The victims were identified as 17-year-old Nachman Mordoff, 17-year-old Elisha Anteman, 21-year-old Harel Masood and 64-year-old Ofer Fayerman.
“We are obviously deeply saddened by the murder of four citizens in a terror attack overnight and we condemn this attack, and make the point that terrorism and violence against civilians can never be justified, and we urgently call upon all parties to exercise restraint,” Senator Wong told the Senate on Wednesday afternoon. “And I would again say what I have said many times, which is a reminder for leaders to work together to foster the conditions necessary for tolerance and peace.”
Senator Wong was responding to a barrage of questions from Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, who began by asking if she would boycott any government representative meeting with far-right Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir.
“The fact that we engage with a country does not mean we agree with every statement made by an officeholder of a country,” she responded. “We will continue to engage with the Israeli government as is appropriate and necessary … Australia has been and is a friend of Israel, and that means we can also indicate our view on matters on which we disagree.”
Senator Steele-John then charged that Israel’s government “is enacting a system of race-based oppression and domination towards Palestinians”.
“There is a name for such a system, Minister – apartheid. Human Rights Watch recognises it, Amnesty International recognises it, Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups recognise it, and the Greens recognise it. When will the Australian Government recognise the reality of Israel’s system of apartheid?,” he asked.
But the Foreign Minister refused to be baited. “We as a responsible international actor will continue to encourage all parties to engage in negotiations for a just and enduring two-state solution,” she said. “I understand that there are many people in this country who feel deeply about these issues on both sides of the debate … I would urge all parties now to not use sensitive issues to play domestic political games.”
Finally, Senator Steele-John asked whether the government would recognise a state of Palestine in line with the motion passed over the weekend at the Victorian Labor conference.
Senator Wong shot back, “I think the question itself made clear your agenda on this … It’s not about the Palestinian people, it is not about the Israeli people, it is not about peace, it’s not about progress towards a two-state solution, it’s about you running a political campaign against the Labor Party.”
Times of Israel contributed to this report.
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