Published: 15 April 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
AIJAC statement
Jewish leader ‘regrets’ anti-Israel claims (The Australian)
Former Labor MP Melissa Parke has settled a defamation case against a prominent Jewish leader, who has expressed “regret” for [any distress caused by her belief that he had accused her] of anti-Semitism.
Both Ms Parke and Australia-Israel Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein claim the case had major implications for freedom of speech.
Ms Parke, who withdrew from recontesting the seat of Fremantle just weeks before the 2109 election after an explosive speech attacking Israel, took legal action against three different parties over their attacks on her remarks.
In a speech that angered then Labor leader Bill Shorten, Ms Parke rationalised Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel after claiming Israeli soldiers forced a pregnant woman to drink bleach at a Gaza checkpoint.
Ms Parke was quoted as saying that while rocket attacks were illegal under international law, they were also “a reaction to and a consequence of decades of brutal occupation”.
“Inshallah, Australia will join that consensus once we have a federal Labor government,” she said.
The speech was attacked by Mr Rubenstein, Liberal [candidate] Dave Sharma and Melbourne’s Herald Sun, owned by News Corp.
Ms Parke took legal action against all three parties, saying that had implied or stated she was an anti-Semite in a bid to silence her criticisms of Israel.
While she subsequently withdrew her case against Mr Sharma, who was being sued for a single tweet, Ms Parke secured a retraction early in proceedings against the Herald Sun, and has now negotiated a settlement with Dr Rubenstein.
In a statement, Dr Rubenstein said: “Ms Parke claims my comments suggested that she is a compulsive slanderer, a conspiracy theorist, a liar, a fanatic and an anti-Semite,” Dr Rubenstein said.
“I did not intend to convey any of those things. My comments were intended to address the accuracy and implications of the statements and claims Ms Parke had made, rather than being directed at her personally.
“Without conceding that my comments carried the meanings which Ms Parke claims, I acknowledge that to the best of my knowledge she is none of those things … I acknowledge that Ms Parke was distressed by her belief that I had characterised her in that manner. I regret that my comments caused her distress.”
Ms Parke told The Australian she accepted Dr Rubenstein’s statement of regret. “I only ever went into the proceedings seeking an acknowledgment that I was not any of the things imputed of me,” she said.
The matter has been resolved with Ms Parke not proceeding with her action and the Federal Court making no judgment nor any decision on costs.
Melissa Parke successfully settles defamation case against pro-Israeli commentator (Pearls and Irritations)
Photo: Melissa Parke
