Even as Israel’s Operation Gideon’s Chariots offensive in Gaza unmasks global capitalism as the ruthless, racist and colonialist project that it is, Australia’s once-strong Palestine supporter Anthony Albanese refuses to impose sanctions on the genocidal regime, which is now using starvation as a weapon of war.
Even apologists for Israel, such as Britain, France and Canada, have been forced to change their rhetoric, saying on May 26 that they would consider “concrete actions” against Israel if it did not stop its illegal settlements and lift aid restrictions.
Albanese was asked at a media conference on May 26 how concerned he was with Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza and that children are being starved to death.
His banal reply was that “Israel’s actions are completely unacceptable”.
That’s it? No sanctions. No end to weapons sales. No recall of the ambassador. No end to giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is happy to spruik his genocidal plans, political cover for genocide to forcibly control Gaza.
Britain, France and Canada, by contrast, said on May 19 that unless Israel halts its illegal settlements, they “will not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions”.
These governments deserve to be criticised for waiting for more than 60,000 people to be killed and the whole of the Gaza’s population to be displaced, starved and deprived of healthcare, before saying they are only “considering” sanctions.
Yet, Labor is unwilling to join their mild protest.
Labor has repeatedly used the excuse that as a “middle power”, Australia does not have the international weight to do much.
But then why did it quickly impose sanctions on Russia over it’s invasion of Ukraine? Why is it sending weapons and trainers to help Ukraine?
When former foreign minister Bob Carr is willing to call Israel’s actions a genocide and Labor MP Ed Husic says Australia needs to “move from words to action”, you know Labor is feeling the pressure.
These Labor figures are now speaking out because of the mass movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people. A new poll shows this movement has great potential if it keeps growing.
Oxfam Australia, ActionAid Australia, Plan International Australia, Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Caritas and ChildFund Australia commissioned the YouGov poll which found: 82% believe that the prevention of food, medicine and water reaching civilians in Gaza is unjustified (90% of Labor voters hold this view); and 67% believe Labor should do more to support Palestinian civilians being able to access food, water and medicine in Gaza (81% of Labor voters hold this view).
Socialist Alliance supports the widespread calls on Labor to break all military ties with Israel, including cancelling the contract with Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems. It must also support the international push for Israel to be made accountable for its genocide.
Finally, it must work with others to find ways to get urgent medical assistance and aid into Gaza.
[Sue Bolton is a member of the Socialist Alliance National Executive and Jacob Andrewartha is a Socialist Alliance national co-coordinator.]