The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) is appalled by the glaring double standards in Australia’s foreign policy, and recent events in the Ukraine only further expose this hypocrisy.
While Foreign Minister Penny Wong has declared all diplomatic options “are on the table,” including expelling the Russian ambassador over the killing of an Australian in Ukraine, she has firmly rejected such measures for Israel.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham has also called for Russia’s diplomat to be expelled in response to this killing, yet he remains silent on Israel’s violations of international law, including its killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom by Israeli Occupation Forces during their 15 months of genocide in Gaza.
Despite Israel’s ongoing violations of international law – apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation – the Australian government continually shields Israel from accountability.
This hypocrisy is reinforced by Attorney General Mark Dreyfus’ upcoming visit to Israel, presented as a reaffirmation of Australia’s “enduring friendship” while ignoring Israel’s oppressive apartheid regime, its war crimes and the arrest warrants that exist for its leaders.
If the government is truly committed to justice and peace, it must hold Israel to the same scrutiny it applies to other nations. Israel is not a country which Australia should be “friends” with.
APAN demands that the Australian government:
- Expel the Israeli ambassador and impose immediate sanctions to pressure Israel to halt its violations of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
- Implement a two-way arms embargo on Israel, immediately ceasing all trade – exports, imports, and transfers – to Israel to stop its ongoing violence.
- Hold Israeli officials accountable through international court investigations and prosecutions for genocide and other crimes.
- Support liberation and self-determination for Palestine, and the dismantlement of Israel’s apartheid regime, genocidal policies, and its illegal occupation.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
It’s beyond time for Australia to expel the Israeli ambassador, and the fact our foreign minister is threatening to expel Russia’s ambassador is proof that this is a government willing and capable of such things.
Every day that Israel’s ambassador remains on Australian soil is another day of tacit approval of Israeli war crimes, genocide and apartheid.
The Australian government’s double standards in demanding accountability for Russian actions while shielding Israel from scrutiny and sending Australia’s chief lawmaker to express the nation’s support for genocidal Israel is not only immoral, it’s indefensible and makes a mockery of attempts to bring the Australian community together.
If the government continues to refuse to expel the Israeli ambassador, it will be sending a clear message that it values its ‘relationship’ with a genocidal rogue state over justice, truth and accountability.