Editorial: Dave Sharma’s moving Australian embassy opinion may be framed as divisive
FORMER Australian ambassador to Israel and now the Liberal Party’s candidate in this Saturday’s Wentworth by-election, was asked for his opinion on a potential shift of Australia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. And he believes it should be considered.
Opinion
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ISRAELI Supreme Court Justice David Mintz reported on Monday that he escaped an attack by three Palestinians near his West Bank home. The attackers allegedly blocked the judge’s car then advanced towards him armed with hammers.
Happily, Mintz escaped. Unhappily, this is another alarming reminder of just how fraught is life within Israel, where peace seems forever to be a stranger.
US President Donald Trump was previously blamed for endangering even the prospects of peace with his move to shift the US embassy from its current location in Tel Aviv.
In truth, however, little provocation is required before Israel’s enemies respond, usually out of proportion to whatever perceived offence is involved.
Additionally, nations should not be limited in their freedom of choice by the threats of terrorists and others permanently opposed to Israel and everything that brave, tiny country stands for.
Yesterday Dave Sharma, a former Australian ambassador to Israel and now the Liberal Party’s candidate in this Saturday’s Wentworth by-election, was asked for his opinion on a potential shift of Australia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“I think we should be open to considering it as Australians. The US has done it,” Sharma said. “We need to look at in context of a two-state solution.”
This is consistent with Sharma’s previously expressed views on a possible embassy relocation. “Even if we don’t move the embassy, we should at least consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital (w/o prejudice to its final boundaries or potential status as capital of future Palestinian state),” he once wrote on Twitter.
“Where else do we disagree with a country about where its capital is?”
Sharma, as he so often does, makes very sound points. As well, in the context of Wentworth, with its significant Jewish population, his views are electorally important. Some will seek to frame Sharma’s opinion as divisive, but again this must be understood in terms of broader Middle Eastern issues.
Basically, any gesture of support for Israel in any circumstance will always be depicted as divisive. This is simply, and regrettably, how that debate works. As long-term allies of Israel, from the time of its foundation, Australia should never feel constrained in expressing our faith in that alliance.
Dubbo to shine for royals
THE peak moment for royal pageantry, outside of actual coronations, might have been the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1976. Across the UK, flags and bunting decorated shops, houses, schools and just about any visible outdoor surface. It was a right royal riot of red, white and blue.
But Dubbo this week aims to match that British display. Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit tomorrow is shaping as Dubbo’s moment to shine.
It might also be the highlight of this entire royal tour, for the town and visitors alike.
By-election could cost Libs
LABOR is playing a curious game in Wentworth. Rather than committing to a straight fight against the Liberal Party, which has held Wentworth for six decades, Labor is instead lending a senior adviser to independent Kerryn Phelps, despite her preferencing the Liberals ahead of Labor.
Perhaps a clue to Labor’s deeper strategy may be taken from a recent boast from Labor candidate Tim Murray.
In an interview, Murray pointed out that the Liberals have been forced to spend an estimated $1 million on a by-election in a seat previously considered safe.
Of course, there is a wider context to Murray’s comment. At present, the Liberal Party is desperately short of campaign funds.
This follows former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s $1.75 million loan to the party during the 2016 election campaign.
So any additional funds drained from Liberal Party coffers will begin eating into available funds for the upcoming federal election, expected next year.
Wentworth could prove very costly for the Coalition in many more ways than one.