Prime Minister’s motion condemning Hamas attack passes 135-4

The Greens’ Adam Bandt [VIC], Stephen Bates [QLD], Max Chandler-Mather [QLD] and Elizabeth Watson-Brown [QLD] stood alone in federal parliament today opposing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s motion condemning last week’s heinous attack on southern Israel.

Mr Albanese had moved that the House:

(1)unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas, which are the heinous acts of terrorists, and have encompassed the targeting and murder of civilians, including women and children, the taking of hostages, and indiscriminate rocket fire;

(2)stands with Israel and recognises its inherent right to defend itself;

(3)condemns antisemitism and recognises that generations of Jewish people have been subjected to this hateful prejudice;

(4)calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages;

(5)recognises that Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people, nor their legitimate needs and aspirations;

(6)acknowledges the devastating loss of Israeli and Palestinian life and that innocent civilians on all sides are suffering as a result of the attacks by Hamas and the subsequent conflict;

(7)supports justice and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike;

(8)supports international efforts to establish and maintain humanitarian access into Gaza, including safe passage for civilians;

(9)reiterates Australia’s consistent position in all contexts is to call for the protection of civilian lives and the observance of international law;

(10)supports Australia’s engagement with countries in the Middle East and beyond, at all levels, in support of the protection of civilians, and the containment of the conflict;

(11)supports the Government’s ongoing efforts to provide consular assistance to affected Australians and to facilitate the departure of those who want to leave the region;

(12)acknowledges what has unfolded is deeply distressing for many in the Australian community, close to the heart of many, and it is important that we maintain respect for each other here at home as people express their views;

(13)condemns all forms of hate speech and violent extremist activity, including Antisemitism and Islamophobia;

(14)recognises an attack on any religion is an attack on all religions and that we all share a responsibility to unite, condemn and defeat such an attack on our common values and way of life;

(15)notes that undermining social cohesion and unity by stoking fear and division risks Australia’s domestic security; and

(16)affirms in the strongest possible terms that hateful prejudice has no place in Australia.

Adam Bandt moved an amendment to point 2, requesting it should be changed to “condemns war crimes perpetrated by the state of Israel, including the bombing of Palestinian civilians, and calls for an immediate ceasefire between all parties and an end to the war on Gaza, recognising also that for there to be peace there must be an end to the state of Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories.”

The amendment was defeated by 107 votes to seven.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton told the House: “The images, the shocking betrayal, the interpretation of what took place means that no longer can the sympathisers of these murderous terrorists call them ‘freedom fighters’.

No longer can the apologists of this death cult claim they have a just and noble cause.

What occurred nine days ago was the embodiment of evil. And the abhorrent acts of Hamas’ inhumanity have been evident for the world to see: Missiles raining down on Israeli cities. Militants invading Israeli territory. A massacre of young people at a music festival. Civilians gunned down in their cars, fired upon while fleeing, and executed in the streets after surrendering. Women being raped, stripped naked, and dragged and displayed through the streets. Lifeless and mutilated bodies being paraded on the back of utilities. Mothers and fathers riddled with bullets as they used their bodies to cover their children in a final act of bravery. Jihadists cheering over the dead bodies of Israeli soldiers. Babies being beheaded.

We pray for all of those innocent people who have been abducted and are currently being held as hostages and taken to Gaza – especially the elderly and the children. The monsters of Hamas will continue to use them as human shields.

The images that we saw over the weekend of a Hamas militant nursing toddlers who had been abducted from Israel. And if we needed any more convincing of Hamas’ unashamed sadism, it’s the glee they have displayed in stating that they will film and post online the execution of those little boys and girls, of men and women, of survivors from the Holocaust. And let us be under no misapprehension about Hamas’ intent from this point: It has no desire for a peaceful two-state solution. Its actions were just designed to derail the peace process. Hamas wants to remove Israel from the map, drive people of Jewish faith into the sea. The Coalition joins with every other person of decent humanity in condemning this attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

Israel has every right to exist. Israel has every right to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to deter future attacks and other acts of aggression, of coercion and of interference.

And the Coalition supports – and proudly supports – Israel’s right to do what is necessary and needed in the circumstances with every asset available to safeguard its sovereignty, to bolster its borders, to protect its people, and to thwart threats it now faces – the existential threats.

Our wonderful Jewish community needs to know that their security is being taken seriously – both at a federal level and the state levels.
I support in the strongest possible terms the Prime Minister’s announcement during the course of his remarks today of funding to provide support, particularly to the Jewish community, to bolster security, to make sure that those children can go to school safely, that people in places of gathering can do so with safety, first and foremost, and the sanctity of their activities preserved.”

 

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus told the House:

“Today, we mourn the greatest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust.

Today we mourn more than 1,300 people who have been murdered by Hamas terrorists.

Hundreds of young Israelis mercilessly hunted down at a music festival.

Israelis murdered in their homes – shot as they answered their front doors. Israelis butchered in their beds. Entire families mercilessly slaughtered in their cars, their kitchens, their living rooms.

Men, women and children. Jewish men. Jewish women. Jewish children.

I am the son of a Holocaust survivor who, as young boy, was forced to flee his home in 1939 and travel to the other side of the world. His life was at risk because – and only because – he is Jewish.

My father, and my grandparents, escaped.

More than six million Jewish men, women and children did not escape. They were murdered by the Nazis and their allies and collaborators for being Jewish.

Anti-Semitism has been called “the longest hatred” – the Nazis did not invent it. And, as the events of the last week have demonstrated all too tragically, Anti-Semitism did not end when the Nazis were defeated.

Because make no mistake:

This was not just an attack on the State of Israel.

And it was not just an attack on the people of Israel.

This was an attack on the Jewish people.

Over thousands of years, the Jewish community – my community – has only survived because of our unbreakable spirit in the face of horrific prejudice.

And, on many occasions, we have had to face that prejudice alone.

Not this time.

Because this time, unlike so many times in our past, the Jewish community is not alone.

As this motion makes clear, Israel is not alone.

Australia’s support for Israel is deep and enduring.

It is a bond of true friendship, which goes back to the founding of modern Israel when Doc Evatt helped introduce UN Resolution 181 – and to when, under Prime Minister Ben Chifley, Australia was the first country to cast a vote in favour of creating the modern state of Israel.

In the shadow of the Holocaust, Australia supported the legitimate right and aspiration of the Jewish people to establish a Jewish homeland.

And Australia unambiguously supports the right of Israel to defend itself today.

At the same time, the Australian Government will continue to support the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people.

To that end, it is the policy of this Government, as it has been for Australian governments for many years now, to support a just and enduring two‑state solution – in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.

This is an aspiration shared by many Israelis and by many Palestinians.

But let’s be clear about something: Hamas does not share this aspiration. Hamas has never shared this aspiration.

Hamas has always worked to undermine those who strive for peace – whether they be Israeli or Palestinian.

Because Hamas has no interest in making peace with Israel.

As the founding charter of Hamas declares, its aim is to “obliterate” Israel.

Today, more than 75 years since Australia supported the creation of the modern state of Israel, my message is simple: the Australian Government stands as one with Israel and the people of Israel against Hamas and its supporters.

Australia stands as one with the Jewish community.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the Senate: “Place names that days ago were known to only a few, are now seared in our memory.

Kibbutz Be’eri.

Kibbutz Kafar Aza.

Small, self-sustaining communities that have experienced unimaginable horror.

I again express my deepest sympathies to those impacted by these heinous acts.

We are shocked. We are horrified.

We grieve with you and we affirm our solidarity with you.”

Shadow Foreign Minister Senator Somin Birmingham said: “What is more difficult to comprehend is that such targeted slaughter – for that’s what it was – slaughter – should lead to scenes of jubilation amongst those who support the twisted ideologies of Hamas.

What great shame can befall a nation than to be the focus of such scenes of jubilation?

The gross anti-semitic scenes on the steps of the Sydney Opera House stain our nation in shame.

That those abhorrent actions have instilled fear in Australia’s strong and proud Jewish community deepen that shame.

Last week, I was in Brussels and Berlin.

To be asked, unprompted, by members of other parliaments in nations far away about those scenes on the steps of the Opera House was not only embarrassing, but disturbing.

Is this Australia in 2023?”

The c0-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin commented: “Upon witnessing jihadists commit mass rape, torture, tying up families and burning them alive, and the abduction and captivity of children and the elderly, the Australian Greens could not support a resolution condemning these crimes.

This is a time for decent people to stand together against terrorism and to call for the immediate release of 165 Israelis subjected to the horror of captivity.

Yet the Greens are so hardwired in their loathing of Israel and distrust of the Australian Jewish community that they could not even extend symbolic solidarity with our community,” Mr Ryvchin said.

The only vigils or public gatherings they have attended have been to oppose Israel in its darkest hour. Let there be no doubt – the Greens are the party of hypocrisy and dishonour.”