Shorten’s pilgrimage to Holy Land leads to thorny questions about his faith in Palestine

Bill Shorten addresses the media from Jerusalem, yesterday:

I am looking forward to meeting with the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Hamdallah …

Rami Hamdallah from the Palestinian Authority is supposedly a moderate. Al-Bawaba News, Sunday:

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah demanded on Sunday that Britain apologise for the declaration promising a Jewish state in historical Palestine, ahead of its 100-year anniversary in the coming week.

And he doesn’t think much of his fellow Palestinians either. The New Arab website, September 11:

A leading Palestinian human rights activist was released from jail on Sunday, after he was arrested last week for criticising a crackdown on freedom of expression by Palestinian Authority security officials.

An Israeli journalist asks the Australian Opposition Leader about his new mate Hamdallah. Jerusalem, yesterday:

Mr Shorten, Prime Minister Hamdallah and the Palestinian Authority — his government is now 12 years into a five-year term, they’re arresting anyone who opposes them and dissidents. What’s your message to them? Why should Australia support a government like that — that has become so undemocratic?

Shorten really can’t answer. The Labor leader in the Holy Land, continued:

Well … I am here to hear how they think they’re going …

Here’s where Hamdallah and the Palestinian Authority are going — closer into the claws of Hamas. The Times of Israel, October 2:

Hamas politicians and members of the premier’s Fatah faction greeted Hamdallah on the Gazan side of the crossing, as some 2000 people gathered ahead of an expected speech … Hamdallah said that there could be no Palestinian state without Gaza …

The media don’t let up on the Opposition Leader in Jerusalem, continued:

Journalist: What about the Labor Party’s position on recognising a Palestinian state? We’ve had six Labor conferences, territories and states, recognise this motion — pass it. Are you going to look at changing your policy on this?

Shorten: What I will do tomorrow is meet with the Palestinian Authority, meet with their prime minister, just as I will meet with Israeli representatives …

How can Shorten avoid this question? His state parties are slipping into the anti-Zionist camp. AAP, June 30:

NSW Labor will unconditionally recognise Palestine and push to make Australia the 138th nation to do so if it takes power. A campaign within NSW Labor … won almost unanimous support from delegates …

One by one. The Australian, June 28:

Queensland Labor will tomorrow vote for the next federal Labor government to “immediately recognise” the state of Palestine. Delegates at tomorrow’s crucial pre-election Queensland Labor state conference in Townsville are expected to back the motion … without much debate on the conference floor.

And then the “pro-Israel” Labor leader says what’s on his mind … surprise, surprise. Shorten, continued:

I think there is genuine frustration at the lack of progress towards a two-state solution … I think that is a general frustration shared by people in Australia and around the world …