Even as Israel鈥檚聽Operation聽聽offensive in Gaza unmasks global capitalism as the ruthless, racist and colonialist project that it is, Australia鈥檚 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聽would consider 鈥渃oncrete actions鈥 against Israel if it did not stop its illegal settlements and lift aid restrictions.
聽on May 26 how concerned he was with Israel鈥檚 plans to occupy Gaza and that children are being starved to death.
His banal reply was that 鈥淚srael鈥檚 actions are completely unacceptable鈥.
That鈥檚 it? No sanctions. No end to weapons sales. No recall of the Ambassador. No end to giving聽Netanyahu, who is happy to spruik聽,聽political cover for genocide to聽forcibly control Gaza.
Britain, France and Canada, by contrast, said on May 19 that聽unless Israel halts its illegal settlements they 鈥渨ill not hesitate to take further action, including targeted sanctions鈥.
These governments deserve to be criticised for waiting for more than 60,000 people to be killed and the whole of the Gaza population to be displaced, starved and deprived of health care, before saying they are only 鈥渃onsidering鈥 sanctions.
Yes Labor is unwilling to join their mild protest.
Labor has repeatedly聽used the excuse that as a 鈥渕iddle power鈥 Australia does not have the international weight to do much.
But then why did it quickly impose聽 sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine? Why is it sending weapons and trainers to help Ukraine?
When former foreign minister聽聽is willing to call Israel鈥檚 actions a genocide and聽,聽Labor MP, says Australia needs to 鈥溾, 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 聽shows聽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聽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).聽
Socialist Alliance supports聽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, must work with others to find ways to get urgent medical assistance and aid into Gaza.
[Sue Bolton is a member of the National Executive and Jacob Andrewartha is a Socialist Alliance national co-coordinator.]聽