West Australian Labor MP Josh Wilson has angered Jewish groups with his comments on Israel’s treatment of Palestine, just days after the ALP lost a candidate to a similar controversy.
The West Australian has obtained video of Mr Wilson addressing the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network on the sidelines of the Labor conference last December.
Senator Sue Lines was also at the meeting.
“They are going to turn Palestine into Swiss cheese and that is what is happening,” Mr Wilson is seen as saying.
Executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council Colin Rubenstein told the West Mr Wilson’s comments were “both insulting and insidious and should have no role in our national debate”.
Israeli ambassador Mark Sofer was also critical.
“The obsession with demonising Israel, which thankfully is the domain of the few, does not at all help the Palestinians and serves only to hamper possible rapprochement in the Middle East”.
Read the article in PerthNow (AAP).