New Senator Dave Sharma unleashes on Greens over anti-Semitism
The newest Liberal senator, a former ambassador to Israel, has unleashed on the Greens, accusing them of having a ‘blind spot’ on anti-Semitism.
The newest NSW senator, Dave Sharma, has accused the Greens of “turning a blind eye to anti-Semitism”.
Mr Sharma, former Wentworth MP and former ambassador to Israel, will return to parliament as a senator, after a surprise win at the Liberal Party preselection on Sunday.
Mr Sharma has been a regular commentator in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attacks, and in his first media appearances since winning the senate spot continued to be asked about the ongoing conflict and its ramifications abroad and at home.
Asked whether the Greens had a “blind spot” for anti-Semitism, Mr Sharma said the Greens had associated themselves closely with anti-Semitic actions.
“Well, I’ve seen Greens at protests where these things are chanted,” he told ABC Radio.
“Mehreen Faruqi just last week was shown alongside at the student protests, with someone … (with) a picture of the State of Israel being thrown into the garbage bin. I presume that can only mean it’s calling for the abolition for the State of Israel.
“I think if you’re calling for the destruction of a member state of the United Nations, and denying the Jewish people a right to the homeland, and a state that is accepted by the United Nations, yes, I consider that to be anti-Semitism.”
Speaking on the same program a short time later, Greens leader Adam Bandt rubbished the idea his party was anti-Semitic.
He said his party had been “very clear from day one” that they were opposed to anti-Semitism.
“From the beginning, since the attacks on October 7 … We condemned or spoke very, very clearly in parliament, not only condemning anti-Semitism, as well as Islamophobia,” he said.
“But we’ve taken a principled position to this invasion, and we do not believe that the people of Gaza should be collectively punished.
“And there has to be not only a temporary ceasefire, but there needs to [be] a permanent ceasefire and we have called for that.”
Pressed on the photo of Senator Faruqi, since removed from her Instagram, showing her alongside pro-Palestinian protesters including one with an image of the Israeli flag being thrown in the rubbish, Mr Bandt defended his colleague.
“The poster was being held by somebody else,” he said.
“It was wrong, it was apologised for and it was taken down.
“I just need to clarify, we have been very clear from day one that we oppose anti-Semitism.”
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