Coalition to give Greens another chance

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Senator Eric Abetz plans to give the Greens the opportunity to acknowledge that Israel is a legitimate and democratic state…

Senator Eric Abetz

The Tasmanian Liberal Senator, who is the Leader of the Opposition said:  “I note the words of Senator Bob Brown, who on Friday said he doesn’t support the NSW Greens having an anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy and who today says, “It’s the federal party that makes foreign policy, as with all parties. Simple as that.”

This is at odds with his position in the Senate just under a fortnight ago.

Accordingly, when the Senate resumes in May on behalf of the Coalition I intend to move the following notice of motion:

That the Senate –

(a)     notes:

(i)     its decision on 23 March 2011 to acknowledge that Israel is a legitimate and democratic state and a good friend of Australia; and to denounce the Israeli boycott by Marrickville Council and condemn any expansion of it;

(ii)    that Senator Brown’s response to this decision of the Senate was to ask that the Australian Greens’ opposition to this motion be recorded;

(iii)   subsequent comments by Senator Brown that it was it was a mistake for the NSW Greens to have their own shade of foreign policy and press reports that he had admonished Senator-elect Lee Rhiannon for her anti-Israel stance;

(b)     believes it is appropriate that the Greens be given another opportunity to  acknowledge that Israel is a legitimate and democratic state and a good friend of Australia; and to denounce the Israeli boycott by Marrickville Council and condemn any expansion of it;

(c)     further notes that the Israeli boycott by Marrickville Council was supported by all Labor councillors on that council;

(d)     acknowledges that Israel is a legitimate and democratic state and a good friend of Australia; and denounces the Israeli boycott by Marrickville Council and condemns any expansion of it.