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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Gross over-reach': Labor group urges Albanese to reject key parts of antisemitism envoy plan
A 'groundswell' of Labor rank-and-file members are urging the government to reject key recommendations from the federal antisemitism envoy, according to an internal lobby group, urging a focus on anti-racism education rather than more contentious ideas such as stripping funding from universities and arts bodies. Labor Friends of Palestine, an internal campaign group of members and politicians, said it was concerned about anti-Jewish hatred, but would be troubled about wider adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's contested definition of antisemitism, as recommended by Jillian Segal in a wide-ranging plan last week. Three co-convenors of the group have written to the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, saying they were 'deeply concerned' about parts of Segal's recommendations, describing her ideas about amending immigration law, changing school curriculums or potentially terminating funding to academics and artists as 'gross over-reach'. The group is also planning a campaign to gather further support from more Labor party branches. 'There is a groundswell of outrage among rank-and-file Labor members,' Peter Moss, a co-convener of Labor Friends of Palestine, told Guardian Australia. 'There is deep concern about the use of the IHRA definition which has been deployed to stifle criticism of the State of Israel.' Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Albanese is currently mulling a response to envoy Segal's 49 recommendations to stamp out anti-Jewish hate. It is widely expected the government could focus its response on the education and prevention measures in Segal's plan. More complex recommendations, such as defunding universities or academic grants, would face more significant debate. Guardian Australia reported on Friday that Segal's push for the federal government to 'require' the IHRA definition 'to be used across all levels of government and public institutions' will face pushback from some concerned Labor MPs and party members. That definition is contested in some quarters, with concerns it was increasingly being used to conflate antisemitism with criticism of Israel. Other Labor voices believed some criticism of Segal's report had been an overreaction, noting attacks on synagogues as an issue that required action. Albanese in 2021 committed federal Labor to the IHRA definition, as did then-prime minister Scott Morrison, and then-Labor premier Daniel Andrews in 2022. However it's understood that any federal push to codify or more widely embed the definition into various sectors would face internal pushback from some federal MPs. Albanese and Segal have both said legitimate criticism of the Israeli government, including its military actions in Gaza, would not be forbidden. Moss and his co-conveners told Albanese in their letter that many Labor members would reject the wider adoption of the IHRA definition, claiming it had been 'been deployed to stifle criticism of the policies and practices of the State of Israel and undermine the capacity of the Palestinian people to assert their rights under international law'. The group noted a 2023 open letter from more than 100 Israeli and international civil society organisations – including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the American Civil Liberties Union – which asked the United Nations to reject the IHRA definition because it is being 'misused' to protect Israel from legitimate criticism. Moss and the group's other co-conveners also wrote to the prime minister of their concerns about some of Segal's recommendations. 'Proposals for amendments to immigration law, changes to school curriculum or reform of funding arrangements for universities and cultural institutions are beyond the scope or expertise of the Envoy and should be rejected,' they wrote. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Segal said on Friday that stripping funding would be a 'last resort', downplaying the potential for such a power to be used. Labor friends of Palestine said they 'share the Government's concerns about increased reports of antisemitic behaviour – just as we share concerns about increased rates of Islamophobia'. 'However the Plan makes some very broad claims that seem to be designed to create a sense of crisis rather than to foster social cohesion,' they wrote. Instead they said the government should focus on cultural and educational programs 'that promote and celebrate the full diversity of our multicultural society.' Moss and his co-conveners also urged Albanese to review the antisemitism envoy position itself, suggesting instead a broader-based program to combat all forms of racism. The Labor government also instituted an envoy to combat Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, who said last week his report would be sent to government in August. 'More than 100 members from around Australia have reached out to Labor Friends of Palestine in the past 24 hours asking us to speak out urgently on this issue,' Moss said. 'Labor members want the prime minister to reject the envoy's plan and review the envoy's position.'
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Labor members pressure Australian govt to impose Israel sanctions
LONDON: Australia's Labor government is under pressure from its own party activists to impose sanctions on Israel. A motion will be put to members of the party drafted by the Labor Friends of Palestine group to call on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to impose measures on people and groups involved in war crimes in Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. It also calls on the government to 'redouble' efforts to secure a ceasefire. LFP's Peter Moss told The Guardian: 'There is a deep frustration that Australia has failed to move beyond words and take effective action under international law to protect the Palestinian people and hold Israel accountable.' He added: 'We are seeing a surge in anger and frustration among Labor members and the broader community. Labor Friends of Palestine is signing up a stream of new members horrified by the genocide. 'There are many Labor voters and supporters who cannot accept Australia's failure to act effectively under international law to stop the starvation.' Last week, Australia condemned Israel's months-long blockade of the Gaza Strip, signing a statement alongside 22 other nations including the UK, Canada and New Zealand. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Israel 'cannot allow the suffering' in Gaza to continue, and statements by several Israeli ministers about the situation in the Palestinian enclave are 'abhorrent and outrageous.' Wong made the remarks after holding talks with her Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar on Friday. But the Australian government did not go as far as to say it was considering targeted sanctions, unlike fellow signatories the UK, Canada and France, which is co-chairing a UN meeting in June on Palestinian statehood with Saudi Arabia. Australia is set to participate in the conference. Moss told The Guardian: 'At a minimum, Australia should immediately support the statement from the UK, France and Canada and prepare sanctions targeted at Israeli officials responsible for using starvation as a weapon of war.' On Monday, Albanese called Israel's blockade — preventing vital aid reaching millions of Palestinian civilians — 'completely untenable' and 'an outrage,' adding that he had conveyed his feelings personally to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Labor MP Ed Husic praised Albanese's comments on ABC radio station on Tuesday, but said Australia needs to do more to pressure Israel and alleviate the suffering of Palestinians. He added that sanctions of individuals and organizations are 'probably under consideration' by the government to 'exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade.' At an event for Gaza at Parliament House on Tuesday night, Sen. David Pocock, an independent, said: 'If the horror unfolding in Gaza is not our country's red line for stronger action, then I don't know what is.' Mohammed Mustafa, a British doctor who has been working in Gaza, also spoke at the event, calling on the Australian government to do more. 'You don't have to be a major player to feed children. You don't have to be a major player to heal children,' he said. 'We need healers in the Middle East, and Australia can be the healer. It can lead the world.'
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Surge in anger' as grassroots Labor members urge Albanese to impose sanctions on Israel over Gaza blockade
Pressure is building within Labor's grassroots membership for the government to impose sanctions on Israel over its blockade of much-needed food and aid into Gaza, with a key internal pro-Palestine group reporting 'a surge in anger and frustration' among members that Australia has not voiced stronger condemnations. Rank-and-file members in local ALP branches will debate a motion, drafted by the Labor Friends of Palestine group, calling on the Albanese government to sanction individuals and groups involved in forced displacement of Palestinians, targeting of hospitals and schools, and the killing of aid workers and journalists. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'There is a deep frustration that Australia has failed to move beyond words and take effective action under international law to protect the Palestinian people and hold Israel accountable,' said Peter Moss, of Labor Friends of Palestine. 'We are seeing a surge in anger and frustration among Labor members and the broader community. Labor Friends of Palestine is signing up a stream of new members horrified by the genocide. There are many Labor voters and supporters who cannot accept Australia's failure to act effectively under international law to stop the starvation.' The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, on Monday levelled his strongest criticism yet at Israel over its actions in Gaza, branding a weeks-long blockade of aid 'an outrage' and calling the Israeli government's 'excuses' for stopping critical food and medical supplies 'completely untenable'. He said he had last week told Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, of Australia's deep concern. Labor MP and former cabinet minister Ed Husic told ABC radio on Tuesday Australia must 'progress from talk to action', including ramping up aid into Gaza, as well as call in Israel's ambassador. He also praised the 'strength' of Albanese's comments. Husic said the government should be 'actively considering' targeted sanctions against Israel, a step he said was 'probably under consideration', and join international efforts from allied countries to 'exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade'. Australia last week joined 22 other nations in condemning Israel over its decision to allow only limited aid into Gaza, adding voice to a joint statement also signed by the UK, Canada and New Zealand. The foreign minister, Penny Wong, also condemned recent 'abhorrent and outrageous' comments made by Netanyahu government members and said the Israeli government 'cannot allow the suffering' in Gaza to continue. But Australia had not foreshadowed further targeted sanctions, as the UK, France and Canada did in a joint statement threatening to step up 'concrete actions'. At an event at Parliament House on Tuesday night with British-Australian doctor Mohammed Mustafa who has recently returned from a medical mission in Gaza, independent senator David Pocock urged the government to do more. 'If the horror unfolding in Gaza is not our country's red line for stronger action, then I don't know what is,' Pocock told the event, which Mustafa also called for more action. 'You don't have to be a major player to feed children. You don't have to be a major player to heal children,' Mustafa said, referencing quotes from government ministers that Australia was 'not a major player' in the Middle East. 'We need healers in the Middle East, and Australia can be the healer. It can lead the world,' he told the event. Alex Ryvchin, CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, was critical of Husic's comments, calling for more attention to the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. 'It is easy to talk about sanctioning Israel and hauling in the Ambassador, even though Prime Minister Albanese confirmed he already raised the issue with Israel's President Herzog … Mr Husic should join us in calling for the immediate and unconditional surrender of Hamas to bring permanent relief to the people of Gaza,' he said. Australia will attend a UN conference in mid-June on the recognition of Palestinian statehood. It is understood the government is awaiting further information before settling on whether Wong or another representative attends. The government would not speculate on further sanctions. But government sources noted Albanese's conversation with Herzog, and Wong's meeting with Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar, where concerns were raised. Moss welcomed Albanese's statement on Monday, but also called for more tangible responses, including supporting a humanitarian aid convoy into Gaza. 'At a minimum, Australia should immediately support the statement from the United Kingdom, France and Canada and prepare sanctions targeted at Israeli officials responsible for using starvation as a weapon of war,' he said. A motion to be debated at numerous Labor branches, drafted by Labor Friends of Palestine, notes the government's endorsement of joint statements but says members are 'disappointed' the government did not join France, Canada and the UK in proposing stronger action. The motion, which has not yet been passed by any branches, also calls for Labor to 'redouble' efforts to bring about a ceasefire.
