Turnbull warns PM against making Israel visit
Andrew Brown |
Anthony Albanese should not make a solidarity visit to Israel despite other world leaders doing so, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has urged.
Mr Turnbull said a prime ministerial visit to the Middle East would serve no purpose, as calls grow for ceasefire in the region.
Despite former prime minister Scott Morrison and former UK prime minister Boris Johnson making a joint visit to Israel, Mr Turnbull said Mr Albanese was better off focusing attention on issues at home.
“What’s Australia going to do, other than provide sympathy and solidarity? Albanese has got to keep his eye on the ball, which is being prime minister of Australia and advancing the interests of the Australian people,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
“Leave the showboating for ScoMo and Boris.”
Mr Turnbull also hit back at suggestions from former Liberal MP Dave Sharma, who once held the former prime minister’s Sydney electorate of Wentworth, that Mr Albanese should visit Israel.
“Dave’s a good bloke, he was a good ambassador in Israel … but he’s running for Liberal Party pre-selection, so I can understand why he’s saying that in that context,” he said.
As the conflict continues between Israel and Hamas, which has been labelled as a terrorist organisation by the federal government, the death toll in Gaza has risen above 10,000.
Both Israel and Hamas have resisted calls for a ceasefire.
Mr Turnbull said while Israel had the right to defend itself following the attacks on October 7, the fighting should come to an end.
“It’s hugely difficult but the sooner this fighting in Gaza can end, the better. It’s a terrible loss of life,” he said.
“Nobody wants this war to continue, but equally, the threat of Hamas has to be addressed.”
The Greens staged a Senate protest on Monday, walking out of parliament to call for a free Palestine.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi said Gaza had become a “graveyard for children” and that the government was shielding Israel from accountability.
Government Services Minister Bill Shorten hit out against the Greens parliamentary protest.
“I don’t think the Greens walking out helps a single soul anywhere. I think that is just political grandstanding,” he told ABC TV.
“We want to make sure that we’re we’re supporting a humanitarian pause. We want to see relief get through to innocent Palestinian civilians.”
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said he hoped to see stability in the region.
“The removal of Hamas needs to be the first objective, we all wish to see that happen as quickly and effectively as possible, so that some type of peace and stability can be achieved,” he said.
“The steps after that in terms of how long Israel may play a role there, what other steps may be undertaken, they are ones that will require strong leadership and extensive engagement from Israel, from its international partners and friends.”
AAP
