Andrew Bolt: Albanese Labor government in disarray on Israel

This focus on Israel as the warmonger, not the victim, is what’s helping license Jew-hatred. Until the government strengthens what unites us, Jews will never truly be safe in a country where Muslims outnumber them.

What Anthony Albanese gave frightened Jews on Wednesday, Tony Burke taketh away. Is there a better example of the government’s disarray?

Credit at least to the Prime Minister for joining Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to reopen Melbourne’s Holocaust Museum and reject this sickening Jew-hatred.

This was Albanese’s strongest and least qualified speech, six weeks after Hamas terrorists butchered 1200 Israelis and kidnapped about 240, starting a war in the Middle East and an anti-Jewish hate-fest in our streets.

He told Jews: “You are feeling fear, anxious that the long shadows of the past have crept into the present.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the opening of the Melbourne Holocaust Museum. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Albanese admitted “anti-Semitism is on the rise” but promised: “We will not let it find so much as a foothold here. Australia will always denounce it and reject it utterly, just as we do all forms of racism and prejudice.” Note that final reassurance to Muslims.

Yet just hours earlier, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke, a leadership hopeful, again appealed to Labor’s anti-Israel Left.

Asked on the ABC about Tuesday’s violent pro-Palestinian protest at Port Botany against an Israeli-owned ship, with 25 people arrested, Burke first covered his rear: “I’m always wary of where some protests can morph or ignite in different ways anti-Semitism.”

He then backed the protest, referring to the 25 per cent of voters in his seat who are Muslim as “the community I represent”. (And the other 75 per cent?)

Workplace Relations MP Tony Burke. Picture: Martin Ollman

“The view of the community that I represent is very much they just want the deaths to stop,” he said. “We need to work through the steps towards a ceasefire”.

Hang on. Did “the community I represent” also want Hamas to release its hostages? Did it want Hamas to stop firing rockets?
Did it want Hamas to surrender, given its promise to massacre Jews “again and again”?

Burke, who has backed a council flying the Palestinian flag, mentioned none of that.
It seems he just wanted Israel to stop fighting back.

This focus on Israel as the warmonger, not the victim, is what’s helping to license Jew-hatred.

Albanese’s government should also consider another factor – the toxic identity politics it’s pushed, helping to turn Australia into a territory of warring tribes. It’s Aboriginal-only Voice to Parliament is the worst example.

It’s now critical it instead defends our national symbols and strengthens what unites us.

Until then, Jews will never truly be safe in a country where Muslims outnumber them eight to one.

Originally published as Andrew Bolt: Albanese Labor government in disarray on Israel