Ed Husic’s ‘openness’ to sanctions against Israeli government, Netanyahu spark Jewish demands for his censure

A peak Jewish body has demanded Anthony Albanese censure cabinet minister Ed Husic and distance the government from his declaring Labor should be ‘open’ to sanctioning Israel.

Cabinet minister Ed Husic has said sanctions were important for people doing the wrong thing, and the Israeli government would need to be held to account. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

A peak Jewish body has demanded Anthony Albanese censure cabinet minister Ed Husic and distance the government from his remarks after the NSW Muslim MP declared Labor should be “open” to sanctioning the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Amid Coalition warnings such sanctions would be unprecedented, Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on Mr Husic’s comments to The Sunday Telegraph, in which he said the government’s sanctions against Israeli settler group Hilltop Youths could be extended to Israel and its leader.

“We should be open to it,” Mr Husic said. “The Prime Minister will need to be held to account for the conduct of the conflict. The tenor in the campaign is set from above.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said Mr Husic had shown “a complete lack of moral clarity” and an inability to differentiate between proscribed terrorist organisation Hamas and Israel, a democracy and close ally of Australia.

“Enough is enough. It is time for the Prime Minister to censure the minister and make it absolutely clear that his remarks do not reflect government policy,” he said.

The condemnation came as Peter Dutton pushed back against any move by the government to give more than 2000 Palestinians on visitor visas a permanent pathway to Australia, saying the conflict in Gaza would be resolved at some point.

New Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government had not made a decision on next steps as the visitor visas began to expire, but “no country in the world would send people back to Gaza at the moment”.

The Australian understands the government’s focus in the Middle East conflict is not on sanctioning Mr Netanyahu.

Senator Wong’s office referred The Australian to comments from Mr Burke, who on Sunday said the government’s priorities were making sure there was an immediate ceasefire, civilians were protected, the dire humanitarian crisis was dealt with and international humanitarian law upheld.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham acknowledged the barbaric October 7 attacks by Hamas had resulted in enormous human tragedy for Israelis and Palestinians but said Australia should be resolute in respecting Israel’s right to self-defence against Hamas terrorists “who openly declare they wish to perpetrate such horrors again”.

“It would be unprecedented for Australia to apply sanctions against the government of a democratic friend and partner, or its leaders,” he said. “We all wish to see the bloodshed end and should apply maximum pressure on Hamas terrorists to agree to the most recent ceasefire proposal by releasing hostages and laying down arms.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said it was “deeply disappointing” to hear a senior member of Australia’s government talking about sanctioning a democratic state fighting on all fronts against the Iranian regime and its proxies that have openly said their enemy is not just Israel, but the West.

“It’s no way to treat a friend,” he said.

Labor Friends of Israel co-convener Mike Kelly noted Australia’s sanctions regime under Magnitsky-style legislation was intended to deal with autocracies that don’t have an independent judicial system.

“Such sanctions would be appropriate against Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis or Iranian officials who are waging a war of aggression involving some of the most heinous crimes ever witnessed,” he said.

Mr Husic was approached for comment.