Family First opposes the Albanese Government's sanctions on Israelis because they are hypocritical, selectively applied, and politically motivated.
Genuine pursuit of peace and justice requires a balanced approach that condemns all acts of violence and respects the sovereignty of democratic allies like Israel.
As a party, we stand for fairness, consistency, and true justice in international relations.
This week’s decision by the Foreign Minister to impose sanctions on seven Israelis and a youth group, citing allegations of violence against Palestinians, has raises concerns about Australia’s treatment of a long-standing ally and the only democracy in the Middle East.
Firstly, it is crucial to understand the basis for Wong's decision.
According to The Guardian, Wong announced Magnitsky-style sanctions against these individuals for their alleged involvement in "beatings, sexual assault, and torture" of Palestinians.
Wong stated, “The individuals sanctioned today have been involved in violent attacks on Palestinians... resulting in serious injury and in some cases, death”.
While any act of violence is condemnable, the question arises: why is there a selective focus on these incidents while ignoring broader and more severe human rights abuses worldwide?
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has rightly pointed out this glaring inconsistency.
AJA CEO Robert Gregory criticized Wong's selective condemnation, noting, “Labor has had nothing to say as many Jewish people have been murdered and severely injured by Arabs in Judea/Samaria (the West Bank) recently”.
This selective outrage raises questions about the underlying motives behind these sanctions.
Moreover, Gregory highlights the hypocrisy in the Australian government’s stance: “Labor has not imposed sanctions on the thousands of individuals who took part in the October 7 massacre”.
The violent attacks carried out by Palestinians against Israelis have not been met with similar punitive measures.
This selective application of sanctions undermines the credibility of Wong's position and suggests a biased approach.
Another critical aspect to consider is the role of Israel's legal system. Israel is a democratic ally with a robust legal framework capable of addressing crimes committed by its citizens.
As Gregory stated, “When there are isolated incidents of Jews retaliating or taking vigilante actions, Israel’s legal system promptly handles it”.
By imposing external sanctions, Wong not only undermines Israel’s sovereignty but also interferes with its judicial processes. This is an "ugly act of interference in our ally’s legal system," as Gregory aptly describes it.
The AJA President David Adler expressed concerns that Wong's actions might be politically motivated, aimed at garnering votes rather than genuinely addressing human rights issues.
The Australian government’s recent focus on Middle Eastern politics coincides with domestic political dynamics, particularly the influence of activist groups like The Muslim Vote, which aims to consolidate the Muslim vote in Australia to impact key Labor seats .
Furthermore, Wong’s selective use of Magnitsky-style sanctions, which have only been previously applied to Russian officials, raises questions about consistency in addressing global human rights abuses.
If Australia is committed to upholding human rights, why are there no sanctions against Chinese officials for their actions in Xinjiang or against Iranian leaders for their oppressive regime?
Family First believes that true justice and peace can only be achieved through consistent and unbiased application of international laws and principles.
The sanctions imposed by Penny Wong not only fail this test but also risk inflaming antisemitism within Australia, as noted by Gregory .
This action by the Albanese government does little to promote peace and instead contributes to further division and hypocrisy on the international stage.