In lockstep with allies, PM backs Lebanon ceasefire
Anthony Albanese says Australia has the same view on a ceasefire in the Middle East as its allies, despite a change in position from the United States.
Simon Birmingham
Australia’s stance on the Middle East remains in lockstep with western allies, the prime minister says, despite US officials dropping support for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
US state department officials said the Biden administration was supportive of ground offensives by Israel into southern Lebanon against the terrorist group Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia had the same position as like-minded countries.
“I support Israel’s right to defend itself, we’ve done that from the beginning, but I also, along with all of the G7 nations including the United States … we have said that there needs to be a de-escalation,” he told Sky News on Wednesday.
“They called for a ceasefire in order to have peace on that Israeli-Lebanon border.
“It’s the same position that the G7 countries have had. It’s the same position that everyone in terms of world leaders. … they want a de-escalation of this conflict.”
Mr Albanese said the way in which Israel conducted itself in its defence also mattered.
“The United States have consistently said that there needs to be an agreement, and there were negotiations with Israel and Hezbollah prior to the current escalation,” he said.
“You need a de-escalation in order to have a diplomatic solution. If you don’t say that’s the case, are you saying this conflict should just continue to escalate, ad infinitum with no end?”
A federal parliamentary motion condemning escalating violence in the Middle East failed to secure bipartisan support, following the first anniversary of the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel.
The motion included a call to release remaining Israeli hostages, recognition of the number of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire in the enclave and Lebanon.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher took aim at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for an agreement not being reached between the major parties.
“I know the lengths that were gone to to try and reach agreement with the opposition to have a bipartisan motion and they were extensive,” Senator Gallagher told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“The parliament could have projected and made a statement in respect of the atrocities that happened on October 7 last year.”
Opposition foreign spokesman Simon Birmingham said the lack of bipartisanship was regretful, but claimed the government had shifted its position on the conflict.
“The motion … omitted to say that it recognised Israel’s inherent right to self-defence and supported Israel in the protection of its civilians,” he told ABC TV.
By: Luke Costin and Andrew Brown/AAP
