Federal MP stands up for Israel

A MUSLIM cleric in Gaza who incites violence against Israel is “a disgrace to men and women of the cloth everywhere, a disgrace to religion and a disgrace to humanity”, according to Federal Member for Deakin Michael Sukkar.

Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Sukkar said the cleric, Muhammad Salah, was brandishing a large knife throughout his speech.

Quoting Salah, Sukkar said, “‘From stabbing squads … We don’t want just a single stabber. Attack in threes and fours. Some should restrain the victim, while others attack him with axes and butcher knives. Cut them into body parts.’”

Sukkar added that the cleric “listed Israeli cities where they are to strike: Afula, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem”.

He went on to note that the people of Israel felt the full impact of Salah’s words almost immediately because in Afula a young woman stabbed a security guard, in Jerusalem a Palestinian man stabbed a man to death and in Tel Aviv there have been several terrorist attacks in the last two weeks.

“He was urging his followers to go out and kill Jews at random – men, women and children – not only in the West Bank but also in Israel itself,” Sukkar said.

The federal politician also attacked Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who he said “supposedly represents the more moderate Palestinian factions”.

“Abbas told his people that ‘every drop of blood spilled in Jerusalem is pure, every shahid [martyr] will reach paradise, and every injured person will be rewarded by God.’”

Sukkar said after those “vile statements” a young Jewish couple travelling in a car were ambushed on the road by Palestinian terrorists and shot dead in front of their four terrified children, who were in the back seat.

He sent his condolences to Israel and the Australian Jewish community.

“They can certainly count on the compassion and understanding of this government at such a difficult time.”

JOSHUA LEVI

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