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Tackling Labor pains

February 4, 2016, 4:35 pm Edit
Warren Mundine has condemned a proposal to ban Labor MPs visiting Israel on subisdised trips.
Warren Mundine has condemned a proposal to ban Labor MPs visiting Israel on subisdised trips.

First there was the insistence that NSW Labor members embarking on subsidised trips to Israel must spend an equal amount of time – stopwatches at the ready – in the Palestinian territories.

Then came news of a proposal being put forward at this month’s NSW Labor conference. Never mind equal time. Members would be banned from going on any trip to the region paid for by the so-called “Israel lobby”.

What next? All trips to anywhere in the world must first be approved by Bob Carr?

Well, no, that would be ridiculous. That would go completely against the principle of singling out Israel for such special treatment. After all, why ban members from visiting regimes that are guilty of the most heinous human rights abuses or from states that are also involved in territorial disputes, when you can focus all your ire on a liberal democracy, governed by the rule of law?

(Note to NSW Labor Friends of Argentina – it’s not too late to propose a motion banning members from visiting the UK, until the keys to the Falklands are handed over to Buenos Aires.)

As reported in The Australian this week, 39 resolutions have been received concerning Israel and Palestine for the forthcoming conference, compared with just 17 resolutions dealing with all other international issues. Considering the significant concerns regarding Iran, Syria and other parts of the world, surely the conference should place proportional focus on other international affairs, or matters directly concerning NSW voters.

But this is the Labor Party we are talking about. A party with a vocal anti-Israel caucus, determined to railroad its views into official policy

However, not all within the party hold such opinions.  Though he has backed spending equal time in Israel and in the Palestinian territories, two weeks ago NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley told The AJN that he does not support a ban on trips to Israel.

Even more vocal in his opposition is former national president of the ALP Warren Mundine. Israel is a shining beacon of light in the Middle East, a region filled with so much hate, terror and tyranny.

Yet, in the minds of some Labor members, Israel – and Israel alone – should be boycotted.

We can only hope that when delegates gather for their conference next weekend, they heed Mundine’s call: “Let’s have a sensible, mature and open debate, not these silly, immature approaches.”

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