Labor calls for Coalition to put aside politics over Palestine comments

A row over the horrific Israel-Gaza war has erupted in parliament, with the government calling for unity amid demands from the Opposition to fire a vocal MP.

The cabinet minister who broke ranks to voice concern over the “collective punishment” of Palestinians should “seriously consider his position”, the Opposition says.

Industry Minister Ed Husic broke with government ranks on Thursday to criticise Israel for punishing the people of Gaza for the “barbarism” of Hamas.

Collective punishment is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

His ministerial colleague, and fellow Muslim, Anne Aly also voiced her concern about the scale of Israel’s retaliation.

Industry Minister Ed Husic said it appeared Israel was engaged in ‘collective punishment’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Meanwhile, the government has called for the Coalition to stop playing politics and work with them to keep the country united.

Mr Husic and Ms Aly maintained, as the government has done, that while Israel had a right to defend itself, international law and the protection of civilians needed to be obeyed.

Mr Husic went a step further, however, by associating Israel with war crimes.

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said the rift in government position was “a real problem”.

“You do not get to freelance on government foreign policy when you are a cabinet minister,” she said on Friday.

“It is a position you share with your colleagues and with the government.”

Labor Party president Wayne Swan sought to downplay claims there was a rift.

“I have had a look at the statements the minister has made and they don’t depart in any way from the government’s position,” he told Channel 9.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Mr Husic must ‘consider his position’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Ley said the Prime Minister had a problem on his hands, just days before he heads to Washington DC to meet with US President Joe Biden, where the ongoing conflict is sure to be a topic of conversation.

She said: “He (Anthony Albanese) may well be asked who is running foreign policy in Australia. Is it (Foreign Affairs Minister) Penny Wong? Is it Ed Husic? What is going on?”

“This is a minister who has stepped out of line and he has got a chance today to correct these remarks, or he should seriously consider his position.”

Education Minister Jason Clare sought to back in his colleagues and maintain the government line, saying that “Israel, like any country, has got to comply with international law, and that means doing everything that they can to make sure that innocent people are not killed her”.

“This is too important to play politics,” he said.

Ms Ley said it wasn’t playing politics to question the government’s unity on foreign policy, to which Mr Clare made mention to her previous role as chair of the parliamentary friends of Palestine.

“We have got to work together as Labor and Liberal to keep the country together at this point,” Mr Clare said.

Mr Swan also hit out at Ms Ley for playing politics.

“I think people ought to be very careful about playing politics with this,” he said.

“This is national security. The head of ASIO has already warned about this sort of politics being played.

“Let’s see a bit of political restraint, no more of this nonsense about deep divisions with the Labor Party.”