Australian PM faces protests over Israel congratulations
AUSTRALIA: Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd faced protests
Wednesday as he led parliament in congratulating Israel on the upcoming
60th anniversary of its statehood.
A woman was ejected from the public gallery after interrupting his
speech as other protesters demonstrated outside, while Palestinian
supporters published a large statement critical of the government’s
position in a national newspaper.
Two powerful Australian trade unions joined the group of individuals
and organisations in the advertisement, entitled “Not in our name”,
which urged parliament to abandon the motion.
“Australia and Australians should not give the Israeli people and its
leaders the impression that Australia supports them in their
dispossession of the Palestinian people,” the advertisement said.
The motion was later supported by the opposition and passed. Foreign
Minister Stephen Smith defended the motion ahead of the parliamentary
sitting, telling reporters that support for Israel had been the
Australian position since the nation state was founded on May 14, 1948.
“Obviously in general terms people are very concerned about what
occurs in the Middle East,” he said, noting that the government strongly
supported the peace process. In parliament, Rudd reaffirmed Australia’s
commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“We firmly believe the establishment of an independent and
economically-viable Palestinian state must remain a key objective of the
Israeli peace process,” he said.
“This is important for the future, just as our objective must be for
Israel to exist within secure and internationally-recognised
boundaries.”
Rudd acknowledged the past 60 years had been marked by bloodshed but
said there had been signs of hope.
“The 60 years since the establishment of Israel have been full of
challenges and full of trials,” he said.
“Similarly the process of the emergence of a Palestinian state has
come along a torturous path — there has been too much bloodshed. But
over 60 years there has also been cause for hope.”
Sydney, Wednesday, AFP
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