Liberals, Labor slam ‘extremist’ Greens Israel sanction ‘stunt’

John Howard, Peter Dutton, and Labor’s strongest Israel voices have called the Greens a vehicle of ‘extremism’ as it prepared to urge the government to sanction Israel in parliament next week.

Greens leader Adam Bandt says the party could move a sanctions motion as early as Monday. Picture: Martin Ollman

Peter Dutton and Labor’s strongest Israel voices have slammed the Greens’ latest “political stunt” and called the party a vehicle of “extremism” as it prepares to urge the Albanese government to sanction Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in parliament next week.

It comes as former Liberal prime minister John Howard reiterated his calls that the party should always be preferenced last, telling The Australian the Greens’ latest move illustrated its slide into political extremism.

The Australian revealed on Wednesday how the Greens would move an Israel sanction motion to the Senate – as early as Monday or at a time with the “greatest effect” – as federal parliament returns from a five-week winter break.

The motion “calls on the government to sanction members of the extremist (Israeli) government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant”.

Mr Howard said that the Greens needed to be viewed as “the real extremists in Australian politics”.

“More than a decade ago I argued that the Liberal Party should always place the Greens below Labor in its preference advice – that remains my view,” he said.

“Their proposal to sanction Israel is the latest evidence of this. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. It has been the victim of continued attacks from nations that refuse to accept its right to exist.”

The Opposition Leader called the party’s “relentless attacks” on Australia’s ally Israel a “disgrace”.

Former PM John Howard.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“In the anti-Semitism the Greens peddle and condone, they present the greatest political threat to our social cohesion,” Mr Dutton said. “Their inflammatory political rhetoric has contributed to spreading anti-Semitism in Australia and has struck fear into our Jewish community”.

Mr Dutton urged Anthony Albanese to rule out a minority government with the party, calling that prospect a threat to social cohesion, “which would tear apart our national unity and undermine our democracy”.

“This is all about Labor/Greens contests in seats in inner-city ­Melbourne and Sydney,” the ­Opposition Leader said.

He accused the Prime Minister of trying to “outbid” Greens leader Adam Bandt on who could criticise Israel more.

Labor’s strongest Israel voices called the move a “political stunt”, which follows Mr Albanese accusing the Greens’ rhetoric of fuelling domestic terror.

“It’s clear the Greens are more interested in pulling stunts in parliament and spreading misinformation about our position than they are in supporting communities impacted by the conflict overseas,” Macnamara MP Josh Burns said.

“It’s a vote-harvesting exercise for them, and while they’re waging a dangerous political agenda, we have seen staff being injured, residents put at risk, MPs being assaulted, and public property being damaged.”

Labor Friends of Israel co-­convener Mike Kelly said the Greens now “reflected” society’s extreme elements and had become the “total antithesis” of a progressive party.