Bob Carr attacked for Palestine posts

Bob Carr has been condemned for saying Palestinians had a right to resist an illegal occupation and would suffer a ‘disproportionately huge retaliation’ from Israel.

Former foreign minister Bob Carr. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council national chair Mark Leibler has condemned former foreign minister Bob Carr for saying Palestinians had a right to resist an illegal occupation and would suffer a “disproportionately huge retaliation” from Israel.

Mr Carr, a key critic of Israel and prominent supporter of Palestinian recognition, responded to the Hamas terrorist attack in which more than 700 Israelis have been killed – including more than 250 people at a music festival in southern Israel – by saying Hamas had won a “tactical ­success”.

“Will be very short-lived. It will draw disproportionately huge retaliation directed at civilians and indifferent to children,” he posted on X. “Between the suicidal instincts of Hamas and the dominance of Israeli air power the losers will be long-suffering Palestinians in what is the world’s largest refugee camp. Palestinians have a right to resist an illegal occupation, the spread of settlements all illegal and apartheid laws – but resist peacefully. Mainstream moderate Palestinians committed to a negotiated solution deserve world attention and support, now more than ever.”

Mr Leibler responded, asking: “Bob – just how far does your hatred for Israel and the Jewish people go? You did not even condemn the sickening attack by Hamas against Israel’s civilian population. Shame on you!”

Anthony Albanese told 2GB radio Hamas’ actions were “unprecedented … completely unacceptable”.

“The idea that you would have people launching essentially indiscriminate shooting at random, just trying to cause as much harm as possible, is just an atrocity that deserves condemnation,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Albanese also said a pro-Palestine protest march planned for the Opera House on Monday evening should not go ahead, and urged people not to attend “just out of respect for the loss of life”.

He said Israel had a “right to defend itself and in these circumstances it will”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong also defended her language after she was criticised by the Coalition for saying “Australia urges the exercise of restraint”.

“I think it is always the right thing for Australia to urge restraint and the protection of civilian lives,” Senator Wong said. “Are people suggesting that we ought not be in any conflict calling for the protection of civilian lives? Of course we should.”

Peter Dutton said the Coalition would not ask Israel to show restraint, arguing it was “completely and utterly the wrong time for that sort of language”.

“When the attacks took place in New York and across the US in the 9/11 attacks, John Howard … prime minister at the time, stood shoulder to shoulder with President Bush in the United States. It wasn’t a time for restraint. It was a time to make sure that, firstly, people are secure and further attacks can be prevented.”