On air with Jon Faine
The Prime Minister was questioned on the Israeli election by ABC’s Jon Faine. J-Wire publishes the transcript.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
HOST: As we speak the polls have closed and votes have been counted in the Israeli election. You aggravated some of your Labor Party colleagues and cause a bit of a diplomatic storm over your stance on recognition at the United Nations of a Palestinian representation at nation-level.
The Coalition likely to be elected in the new Knesset in Israel looks like it is going to oppose the peace process. What does that do to our relationship with Israel?
PM: I am getting some reports coming through on the results in the Israeli elections. They are coming through off the Financial Times website and other places, all the international news sources.
Jon, I’m not an election commentator and I’m not going to comment on the nature of the Israeli Government until all the election processes are finished, counted and a government is formed. That wouldn’t be appropriate.
HOST: But we have a commitment at the United Nations and a seat now on the Security Council and we have a belief, we have a publicly stated, internationally recognised view that we believe in a two-nation solution and we may now have as a close ally, and we’re told a strong friend, a government in Israel that no longer agrees with our position.
PM: Well Jon I’ve just said to you, I’m not going to run commentary on Israeli politics.
What I can say is we as a government are strong supporters of a two-state solution in the Middle East.
We always have been as a Labor Party. We always will be and we will advocate that irrespective of who is in which positions in government. That’s our long-held view.
The Prime Minister was right to say that they would have to wait until he election process is complete. She does not know what parties will be in the final government. Until then it is only speculation, which as a Prime Minister she should not be involved in. She has stated that Australia supports a two state solution she has no right to say anything more.
I am so glad I didn’t actually hear this interview and have to listen to Jon Faine’s smug, quick-off-the-mark, inappropriate and superficial comments on the issue. I try hard not to let people make my blood boil, but he nearly manages it every time. What with him asking the questions and the Prime Minister answering, or non-answering, them in her phlegmatic, tunnel-vision way, what a great interview to miss!
It’s enough to make you leave the country.
Surely that isn’t the whole interview?!
Brilliant, just brilliant. Our PM gave splendid answers, but most importantly , managed to say NOTHING.
Jon, the ABC little moron suggested that the Goverment of Israel is “opposed to the peace process”. To that false, idiotic statement our PM replied…..nothing. Not on the ball ??!! You must be kidding , she gave the best comment….NO comment. Just brilliant !!