Anti-Israel ACTU push stirs Jewish fury
The ACTU has issued its strongest support for Gazans over Israel, sparking an outcry from peak Jewish groups and embarrassing the Albanese government.
The ACTU has ignited a ferocious battle with Australia’s Jewish community during Passover by calling for the Albanese government to end military trade with Israel, enforce targeted sanctions against Israeli government officials and inject a further $100m of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank.
The ACTU savaged Israel’s role in the Middle East conflict and demanded the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, joining some of the most strident pro-Palestinian union critics of the conflict sparked by the October 7 massacre of 1200 Israelis.
It is the ACTU’s strongest statement on the war so far, bringing it into conflict with key aspects of the federal government’s position on Israel and piling pressure on Anthony Albanese’s internal handling of the crisis.
The statement was released under the names of ACTU president Michele O’Neil and secretary Sally McManus, and will heap pressure on Labor MPs already facing a barrage of criticism from the Greens and Muslim constituents in key seats.
The statement’s timing has incensed Jewish leaders, coming on the eve of the holy festival of Passover, with Jewish families urged to provide an empty place at their Passover table in memory of the scores of hostages still missing.
Government insiders said the ACTU was in direct contradiction with some key planks of federal Labor policy.
Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said the decision to so sharply attack the Israel position had shattered the community.
“We are stunned. From reading their statement, it is as if the ACTU is living in an alternative reality,’’ he said.
“In their reality, there is no Hamas, their statement does not mention the proscribed terrorist organisation that started this war on October 7 and which still holds 130 hostages, including women and children in Gaza.
“In the world inhabited by the ACTU, Iran is not conducting a greater proxy war to destroy Israel, the United States and our allies. This statement does absolutely nothing to help innocent Palestinians and Israelis, all of whom continue to suffer at the hands of Hamas.”
Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich slammed the statement as a shameful motion aimed at demonising Israel and minimising the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas. “Shame on those who crafted this hatchet job,’’ he said. “For the ACTU, Hamas seems to be the hardest word. If a Martian landed on Earth and read today’s shameful motion, chock full of delegitimisation and demonisation of Israel, they would think … Israelis massacred on October 7th by the bloodthirsty terrorists of Hamas died in an earthquake or tsunami.”
The ACTU urged the government to use all influence, pressure, and diplomatic measures to achieve a permanent ceasefire and commit additional funding of $100m in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and the West Bank.
The ACTU also called on both the Israeli government and Palestinian leadership to “promote open, tolerant and respectful societies through adherence to democratic principles in governance, respect for human rights and equal treatment for all”. In the initial stages of the conflict, the ACTU came under heavy pressure to fall in behind the most outspoken unionists who opposed Israel, almost all from the hard left of the union protest movement.
However, the ACTU did not match the hardline rhetoric, particularly as sections of the broad right faction of the Labor Party and the union movement said Labor needed to maintain its traditional support of Israel and the Australian Jewish community.
A spokeswoman for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “The ACTU is entitled to express its view. The Albanese government’s position is clear. We have been consistent in our call on all parties … for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, enabling the release of hostages, the protection of civilians, and safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
“Australia has provided substantial humanitarian assistance for civilians affected by the Hamas-Israel conflict.”
Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash blasted the timing of the ACTU statement.
“The ACTU’s anti-Israel stance is on display again as it continues to draw a false equivalence between the barbaric acts of terrorism by Hamas on October 7 last year and Israel’s right to defend itself,’’ she said. “The Albanese government should not take advice from the ACTU, but past experience indicates they probably will. Their anti-Israeli rhetoric is particularly disappointing as the important Jewish celebration of Passover begins.
“We’ve seen an unprecedented rise of anti-Semitism since October 7 and our Australian Jewish community remains frightened. All Australians must stand against age-old, enduring and shape-shifting anti-Semitism, not only because it’s an attack on one segment of our community, but because anti-Semitism is an attack on the Australian achievement, our way of life and civilisation itself.”
The ACTU statement acknowledged the deaths of the 1200 Israelis in the October 7 raid but focused overwhelmingly on the Israeli response to the raid.
“We condemn the deaths of over 34,000 civilians since 7 October including (1200 Israelis and over 33,000 Palestinians),’’ it said.
“We condemn the killing of Zomi Frankcom and other aid workers, including those working for Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA partner MA’AN development centre, who have been working on emergency relief in Gaza.
“The situation facing people in Gaza is dire: two million people are facing food insecurity. Food shortages have exceeded famine levels and mass death is imminent.
“The ACTU condemns the use of starvation as a weapon of war and urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s order to take immediate steps to prevent acts of genocide, punish incitement to genocide, and facilitate the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza.
“Israel must immediately provide food and essentials to people in Gaza and ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.”
The statement said the ACTU welcomed the Albanese government reinstating funding to the UNRWA, appointing a special adviser to assess the IDF investigation of Frankcom’s death and repeating the call for a two-state solution.
“The ACTU is deeply concerned, however, at evidence that Australian companies supply parts used as part of global supply chains, including to F-35 fighter jets. Israel utilises F-35 fighter jets to drop bombs on Gaza,’’ it said.
Additional reporting: Isabella Pesch
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