Morrison accuses UN of antisemitism, decries ‘persecution’ of Australian Jews

Former prime minister Scott Morrison has accused the United Nations of antisemitism at a rally in Sydney while warning a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not currently viable.

Thousands gathered in The Domain on Sunday for the event organised by a Christian pastor to support members of the Jewish community, under the slogan “Never Again” Is Now.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison attacked the United Nations at a rally against antisemitism held in Sydney.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Morrison, who travelled to southern Israel with former British prime minister Boris Johnson in the aftermath of the October 7 terror attacks, told Jewish members of the crowd “we honour you as fellow Australians”.

“We are deeply sorry,” Morrison said. “Sadly instead of finding consolation, on too many occasions you found isolation, and even abandonment, and even persecution, in this, a free country. Instead of safety you were confronted with threats and even hatred.”

Morrison, who recently announced his retirement from parliament, outlined examples of conduct he labelled antisemitic, including calls for the extinction of the state of Israel “from the river to the sea” and comparing Israeli government policies to those of Nazi Germany.

Thousands gathered at the Domain park lands on Sunday at an event organised by a Christian pastor in solidarity with the Jewish community. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

“Applying double standards by requiring of ... Israel, a behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation – that is antisemitism,” he said.

“And we have seen that in the United Nations.”

The former Liberal leader did not elaborate on his criticism of the UN but later warned against equating the Hamas terror attacks with Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

The UN’s International Court of Justice ruled last month that Israel must do everything in its power to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians.

Morrison called for a lasting and deep peace that went beyond “the absence of conflict” and spoke in favour of a two-state solution, which drew boos from some in the crowd.

However, he said the violent acts of Hamas “betray a future for the Palestinian people and they condemn any future for a viable Palestinian state”.

“We do need two states that are interested in the development of their own positive society, not the extermination of their neighbours,” he said. “At present, the competence of such a second state, and free state beyond Israel, is not present.”

Liberal MP Julian Leeser said antisemitism was found in far-left politics and that “Greens parliamentarians think Jews have tentacles”, a reference to comments made by NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong.

Leong spoke of the “tentacles” of the “Jewish lobby” at an event in December but has since apologised for the “inappropriate descriptor”.

Senator Jacqui Lambie drew one of the biggest cheers from the crowd when railing against Hamas.

“The only good terrorist is a bloody dead terrorist,” she said.

Pro-Palestine organisers have continued to hold events in Sydney protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza, with another scheduled for next weekend.

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