Albanese backs Israel’s right to defend itself after “abhorrent” attacks

Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s war of retaliation against Hamas terrorists in Gaza.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Israel has a right to defend itself from “abhorrent” violence. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

Anthony Albanese has thrown his support behind Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s war of ­retaliation against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, backing Israel’s right to defend itself from “abhorrent” violence on its citizens.

The Prime Minister condemned the “indiscriminate” weekend attacks against Israelis, declaring it “a very dark 24 hours” for the Jewish state.

“This is an attack on Israel by Hamas that has no precedent,” Mr Albanese told Insiders on Sunday, after speaking to Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon.

“Of course people are worried about escalation, but Israel has a right to defend itself, and it will be doing so.”

Mr Albanese’s full-throated backing for Israel on Sunday ­followed criticism by pro-Israel figures of an earlier comment by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who urged “restraint” in coming days.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for “restraint” in coming days, angering many in the Jewish community who are in shock at the brutal attacks. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

It also came months after the government hardened its position on Israel, declaring Gaza and the West Bank as “Occupied Palestinian Territories” and Israeli settlements as ­“illegal”.

Labor figures who pushed for the tougher stance on Israel, including former foreign minister Bob Carr and Left-faction backbenchers Susan Templeman and Josh Wilson, were unavailable for comment on Sunday.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe tweeted “I stand with Palestine”, along with an image of Palestinian territory receding through the years since the creation of Israel in 1948.

Peter Dutton said the Coalition “utterly” condemned the “unprovoked and abhorrent attack” by Hamas militants on Israel.

“It is yet another example of a deliberate act of violence intended to inflict maximum harm on innocent civilians,” he said. “The attack is a provocation.

“Israel has every right to defend itself in response and to deter future attacks and acts of aggression, coercion and interference.”

Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel by Hamas including indiscriminate rocket fire on cities & civilians.

We call for these attacks to stop & recognise Israel’s right to defend itself.

Australia urges the exercise of restraint & protection of civilian lives.

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 7, 2023

Liberal MP Julian Leeser said Labor “must put aside its mixed messages on the Middle East over recent months”.

“Australia must be a consistent and steadfast friend of Israel. Our values should demand nothing less,” he said. “Australia cannot be indifferent to the security of Israel. The actions of Hamas demonstrate the ever-present danger that the people of Israel face.”

As the violence raged on Saturday night, Senator Wong called for the attacks to stop and backed Israel’s right to defend itself. “Australia urges the exercise of restraint (and) protection of civilian lives,” she said on X.

Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar said the call was “unbelievable”, declaring Israel “has every right to defend itself with whatever force is required”.

Liberal MP Michael Sukkar says Penny Wong’s call for “restraint” after Israel was attacked by Hamas terrorists is “unbelievable”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Zionist Federation of Australia spokesman Bren Carlill said the call for restraint insulted some within the Jewish community, given that “Israel always practices restraint”, and the statement “could be seen to imply moral equivalence between Hamas and Israel”.

Dr Carlill said he did not believe Senator Wong meant any insult, and her statement had been “misdirected”.

He said the attacks were “appalling and unprovoked”, breach­ing all norms of conflict.

“Hamas is shooting civilians in cold blood in their homes,” Dr Carlill said. “It is taking hostages, including elderly women, and parading the bodies of its victims through the streets.

“These crimes against humanity reveal not just the tactics of Hamas but the depravity of the movement and its real agenda – an agenda of murder, of genocide.”

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network blamed Israel for the violence gripping the country, saying Palestinians were “crushing Netanyahu’s and Israel’s expansionist aspirations”.

APAN president Nasser Mashni said the evolving conflict between Israel and Gaza militants was a “clear result of Israeli escalation … Just this week Israelis have invaded the most holy sites in Jerusalem (and) mobs of settlers have attacked Palestinian towns, killing Palestinians while Israeli soldiers watch on.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said the attacks marked “one of the darkest days in the history of the Jewish people”.