AUSTRALIA – FOREIGN RELATIONS – ISRAEL

ALP ups its attack on Israel over Gaza

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Jul-25

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has defended the federal government’s decision to issue a joint statement with 27 other nations urging Israel to end the war in Gaza. Amongst other things, the statement contended that Israel’s "drip feeding" of aid into Gaza is "dangerous and unacceptable", and that the suffering of civilians in Gaza has "reached new depths". Burke had described Israel’s conduct in Gaza as "indefensible", but acknowledges that Hamas must release its remaining hostages. The joint statement has in turn been criticised by Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, who says it is "disconnected from reality" and "sends the wrong message to Hamas".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Wong’s Israeli sanctions create legal minefield

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Original article by Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 12-Jun-25

The federal government is under growing scrutiny over its decision to back a joint statement imposing financial sanctions and travel bans on two Israeli cabinet ministers. Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated Labor’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in announcing the sanctions on National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has warned that Australian individuals or companies that have business interests in Israel should seek legal advice, because they could potentially be in breach of the sanctions and may incur large fines or even imprisonment.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Loss of Western values: Lib MP slams Wong’s contempt

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Jan-25

Liberal MP Julian Leeser has accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of having a ‘blind spot’ when it comes to Israel, and having a lack of faith in the Western values that Australia and Israel share. Leeser contends this lack of faith has resulted in Wong in being openly hostile to what is the only democracy in the Middle East, while he accused her of showing ‘quiet contempt’ by refusing to visit massacre sites on her official trip to Israel. Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein claims that Leeser’s comments about Wong "ring true".

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA-ISRAEL AND JEWISH AFFAIRS COUNCIL

Loss of Western values: Lib MP slams Wong’s contempt

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Original article by Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Jan-25

Liberal MP Julian Leeser has accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of having a ‘blind spot’ when it comes to Israel, and having a lack of faith in the Western values that Australia and Israel share. Leeser contends this lack of faith has resulted in Wong in being openly hostile to what is the only democracy in the Middle East, while he accused her of showing ‘quiet contempt’ by refusing to visit massacre sites on her official trip to Israel. Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein claims that Leeser’s comments about Wong "ring true".

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA-ISRAEL AND JEWISH AFFAIRS COUNCIL

China, Russia, Israel: Wong on affront foot

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Original article by Ben Packham, Sarah Ison
The Australian – Page: 1 : 11-Dec-24

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has defended a controversial speech at the University of South Australia. Wong used the Hawke Lecture to contend that it is not anti-Semitic to expect Israel to comply with international law, in the same way that Russia and China are expected to do so with regard to Ukraine and the South China Sea. However, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson says Wong’s criticism of Israel is encouraging anti-Semitism and threatening the safety of Jewish Australians. Meanwhile, Simone Abel from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry has accused the government of double standards regarding foreign policy towards Israel.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY

Anti-Israel ACTU stirs Jewish fury

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Original article by John Ferguson, Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 23-Apr-24

The ACTU has called on the federal government to cease military trade with Israel, provide Gaza and the West Bank with a further $100 million in aid, and enforce targeted sanctions against Israeli government officials. It represents the ACTU’s strongest statement on the Israel-Hamas conflict since it began in October; its timing has angered the Jewish community, given that it has been issued on the eve of the holy festival of Passover. Commenting on the statement, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler says the ACTU appears to be living in an ‘alternative reality’ that ignores the fact that the conflict was started by Hamas, and that it is still holding 130 hostages.

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ACTU, ZIONIST FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA

PM’s fury at Israel raises Jewish fears

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 4-Apr-24

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Israeli airstrike that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues was "completely unacceptable". Albanese discussed the botched airstrike with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, stating that he told Netanyahu that Australians are outraged by the tragedy; he also demanded full accountability for the incident, in which three humanitarian aid vehicles in Gaza were targeted by Israeli drones. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has reiterated the federal government’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a two-state solution; however, Jewish community leaders in Australia are concerned that a ceasefire would leave Hamas in control of Gaza.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Albanese must talk with Netanyahu, send Wong to Israel: Opposition

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Original article by Paul Sakkal
The Age – Page: Online : 25-Oct-23

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he has spoken to Israel’s ambassador to Australia several times since the war against Hamas began. However, Albanese has confirmed that he has not spoken to Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and has no plans at present to visit Israel. Albanese reiterated Australia’s support for Israel at a press conference during his official visit to the US, stating that the nation has picked "a side against Hamas". Meanwhile, shadow home affairs minister James Paterson argues that Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong should visit Israel if Albanese’s schedule means that he cannot do so.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Labor’s left turn on Israel

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 9-Aug-23

The federal government has revealed a change in its official policy on Israel ahead of Labor’s upcoming national conference in Brisbane. A caucus meeting endorsed the policy change on Tuesday, with Labor to now recognise the West Bank and Gaza as ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’; Israeli settlements will in turn be described as ‘illegal’ under international law. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the policy shift is in line with previous federal governments and UN Security Council resolutions, while she adds that Australia remains a "committed friend of Israel". Labor has previously reversed the former Coalition government’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Indon FTA on track despite Israel uproar

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 18-Oct-18

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has downplayed concerns that a proposed free-trade agreement with Indonesia may be jeopardised by any change in Australia’s policy on Israel. According to media reports, Foreign Minister Marise Payne has been warned by her Indonesian counterpart that the nations’ bilateral relations would be damaged if Australia relocated its Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Farmers are concerned that Australia’s live cattle exports to Muslim countries could be affected.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, INDONESIA. MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT