The controversy surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Australia has intensified, with Jewish leaders accusing his critics of “staggering” hypocrisy and a Labor MP breaking ranks to openly criticise prominent pro-Palestinian figures in his own party.
Mr Netanyahu will arrive with a business delegation on Wednesday for a four-day visit – the first ever by a serving Israeli Prime Minister – that will include talks with Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten.
Trade, cyber-security, intelligence, the war in Syria and the Middle East peace process will be discussed, with the two countries set to sign agreements on technological research and air services.
But the controversial leader will also be met with protests and criticism.
Sixty business and religious leaders, lawyers, academics, entertainers and former politicians this week joined forces to oppose Mr Netanyahu’s visit, penning an open letter that said his policies “provoke, intimidate and oppress” the Palestinian people and are a roadblock to peace.
Jewish leaders hit back on Tuesday, with University of Melbourne academic and Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich slamming the group that organised the statement – the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network – as having “zero credibility”.
“I suspect many of those opposing the visit subscribe to the delusion that the way to peace-building between warring parties is by boycotting and hissing one side and infantilising the other. It is not,” he said.
The stoush comes after former prime minister Kevin Rudd joined other senior Labor figures – including Bob Hawke, Bob Carr and Gareth Evans – in calling for Australia to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN. Labor supports a two-state solution but has also moved closer to supporting unilateral recognition, saying that will be up to a future Labor government.
Read the full article by Adam Gartrell at The Sydney Morning Herald.