Albanese government ‘deeply divided’ over Israel ceasefire letter: Paterson

An open letter accusing Israel of “domination” and calling on Australia to “recognise Palestine” signed by prominent federal and state MPs signed shows Labor is “deeply divided” over Middle East policy, says Liberal MP.

The Albanese government has been accused of being “deeply divided” over its Middle East policy a number of prominent federal and state Labor MPs signed an open letter accusing Israel of “domination” and calling on Australia to “recognise Palestine”.

“The Albanese government is clearly deeply divided on Israel and Hamas, with prominent backbenchers freelancing and running their own independent foreign policy,” said shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson.

“Australia’s national interest is not served by this chaotic response to the most sensitive geopolitical issue in the world today.”

“The Prime Minister should rein in this loose and inflammatory rhetoric for the sake of our security and national cohesion,” he said.

Among the signatories to the letter are WA Labor senators Louise Pratt and Fatima Payman and Victorian MP Maria Vamvakinou.

Pro-Palestine protesters are seen at the protest for Gaza in Hyde Park, in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Eleven members of NSW Premier Chris Minn’ government also signed along with a large number of Greens including federal leader Adam Bandt and former leader Bob Brown.

Mr Minns has previously had to rebuke one of his backbenchers for “incendiary” comments on Israel.

Former premier Bob Carr is one of the signatories to the letter.

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham said, “There is no ‘context’ that can justify Hamas’s terrorist attack on babies, children, the elderly and teenagers enjoying a music concert.”

“That there are growing numbers of current and former Labor MPs seeking to contextualise the Hamas attacks just reinforces the weakness in the Albanese Government’s attempts to be all things to all people.”

“While Israel should act with regard for international law, there is no moral equivalence between Hamas terrorists and Israel’s self-defence to prevent another atrocity, and once Hamas’s terrorist and governance capabilities are removed the international community should have clear expectations of both Palestinian leadership and Israel to help secure a lasting peace.”

Bob Carr, ex-premier of NSW also signed, as did former Labor cabinet minister Gareth Evans.

The letter was organised by the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network and accuses Israel of violating international law and Palestinian rights.

Although it acknowledges that Gaza was “cleared of illegal Israeli settlements in 2005”, it makes no mention of ongoing Hamas terror attacks launched from the territory that led to the erection of a security fence and a blockade.

NSW Senator Hollie Hughes said that “Chris Minns and Anthony Albanese need to take appropriate actions or risk being seen as endorsing these sentiments.”

“Every death that has occurred since October 7, be they Israeli or Palestinian, lay at the feet of Hamas, yet they can only lay blame on Israel.”

“Their almost pathological refusal to condemn Hamas and the actions it has taken including the use of human shields by Hamas, speaks to a complete lack of moral clarity.”