The Greens have been prominent in condemning Israel’s ongoing mass murder and destruction in Gaza. The federal Labor Government adamantly sits on its hands while condemning the Greens. Whence the absence of principle and courage on the government’s benches?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has claimed (to the Labor Caucus, 14 November 2003, and perennially), that he has been “an advocate for the rights of Palestinians my entire political life”. In student days and soon after, he was an activist against apartheid South Africa and then the Israeli Occupation, but those days are ancient history.

On 29 May 2024, Bandt moved that Parliament suspend normal business and recognise Palestinian statehood. All but the four Greens’ MPs and Independent Andrew Wilkie voted down the motion. Labor MP Tim Watts, then assistant minister for Foreign Affairs, led the reaction. Watts accused the Greens of “wedge politics” (otherwise “vote-harvesting”). More:

“[recognition] could occur as part of a peace process and once there is progress on serious governance reforms and security concerns. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. We see no role for them in this. A Palestinian state cannot be in a position to threaten Israel’s security. We want to see a reformed Palestinian governing authority that is committed to peace, disavows violence and is ready to engage in a meaningful peace process.”

Labor Parliamentarians shamelessly trot out this twaddle. The Zionist imprint is omnipresent. When are we going to hear the demand that an Israeli state cannot be in a position to threaten Palestinians’ security?

There was uproar in the House of Representatives on 4, 5 and 6 June 2024, as Bandt stood his ground when met........

© Pearls and Irritations