Published: 29 July 2024
Last updated: 6 September 2024
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined his counterparts from Canada and New Zealand in urging Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The prime ministerial statement released by Albanese, with Canada’s Justin Trudeau and New Zealand’s Christopher Luxon, called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow extra aid into the area, where about 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.
The three leaders emphasised they remain committed to a two-state solution as the “only realistic solution” to a lasting peace in the region.
“The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.
“We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of Hamas for the atrocities of October 7 and ongoing acts of terror. Hamas must lay down its arms and release all hostages. We see no role for Hamas in the future governance of Gaza.
“Israel must listen to the concerns of the international community. The protection of civilians is paramount and a requirement under international humanitarian law. Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas. It must end.
“An immediate ceasefire is needed desperately. Civilians must be protected, and a sustained increase in the flow of assistance throughout Gaza is needed to address the humanitarian situation,” the statement said.
The statement, which came just before the attack on Majdal Sham which killed 12 Israeli children, expressed concern about the escalation of hostilities, condemning the Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv.
“We are particularly concerned by the situation along the Blue Line, including the escalation of hostilities and rhetoric between the terror group Hezbollah and Israel. It has led to the displacement of thousands of Israelis along the northern border and thousands of Lebanese along the southern border. Further hostilities put tens of thousands of civilians in Lebanon and Israel at risk.”
Labor push for Palestinian statehood
Albanese's push for ceasefire was not enough for his party, which called for recognition of Palestinian statehood at two conferences on the weekend.
NSW Labor has voted to urge the Australian government to quickly recognise Palestinian statehood, as the party faces growing frustration in Western Sydney electorates over the government's response to the Gaza conflict.
A motion carried at the party's state conference in Sydney on Saturday called on the federal government to "recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and as a priority".
The language brings the NSW branch's position largely into line with that reached last year at the party's national conference, which called for recognition of Palestinian statehood and declared the issue an "important priority".
This resolution was not been adopted by the parliamentary party and there is no indication that this situation will change.
A stronger motion was passed at the ACT conference, calling on the government to immediately recognise Palestine. It was the first such motion to pass at a Labor conference.
Support for Palestinians was on display at both conference with a flag being unfurled during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's speech in NSW and protests outside both conferences.
Teens charged over attack on Burns ’office
An 18-year old Melbourne woman and 17-year old boy have been charged with vandalism following the antisemitic attack on the St Kilda office of federal Labor MP Josh Burns just before 3:30am on June 19. Windows were smashed and the slogan "Zionism is Fascism" was painted on a poster for Burns.
The woman was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on October 11 and the boy will face a children's court at a later date.
Following the vandalism in June, a second incident occurred at a St Kilda Road building a month later. The investigation remains ongoing.
Jewish-Green tension plays out in electoral boundary debate
A Liberal and Greens proposal to include parts of Greens Leader Adam Bandt’s Melbourne electorate in redrawn boundaries for Macnamara has drawn a sharp reaction from Former federal Labor minister Mike Kelly.
“[The possible] inclusion of two solid Greens booths could turn it into a Greens seat,” he said. “Not only is that disturbing, but flies in the face of the logic the AEC has followed.”
Dr Kelly said one of the AEC’s criteria was “community of interests”, and the Jewish community in Macnamara would “certainly not be well served by a Greens MP”. He claimed the Greens had not “earned” an increased parliamentary presence, given what he called the party all but “parroting” some of Hamas’s propaganda.
“We should be working together to send a clear message to the Greens and prevent them getting any further representation in parliament,” Dr Kelly said.
“Their abandonment of any pretence of being a rational, reasonable party means they don’t belong anywhere near the mechanisms of government.
“So much of their narrative is irresponsible and has fermented social disruption.”
READ MORE
Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and New Zealand (PMO)
ACT Labor conference delegates vote to recognise state of Palestine
Teenagers charged over politically motivated graffiti on MP Josh Burns's office (ABC)
Mike Kelly: Jewish community in Macnamara would ‘certainly not be well served by a Greens MP’ (The Australian, paywall)
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