2024-07-04
Today the Australian Greens have entered into the Senate a motion that calls on the Australian Government to sanction members of the extremist Netanyahu government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Albanese government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons and entities connected to North Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Syria, and Zimbabwe.
Labor have not imposed any sanctions on any people or entities complicit in the genocide being perpetrated by the State of Israel. The Greens say that this shameful inaction, alongside similar refusals by other nations, has given licence to Benjamin Netanyahu’s extreme government to act with impunity.
Lines attributable to Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Senator Jordon Steele-John:
“Labor’s refusal to sanction anyone responsible for war crimes being committed by the State of Israel is a disgrace. They have done more to sanction Senator Payman than they have to sanction a state found by the UN to be plausibly committing a genocide,” Senator Steele-John said.
“The Albanese Government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons or entities connected to a range of governments and regimes, yet have failed to place any sanction on any person or entity complicit in the genocide and war crimes being perpetrated by the State of Israel.
“The Greens have lodged a motion calling for sanctions today, which will be voted on as soon as the parliament returns. The party will be using the break to put pressure on other MPs to back Palestine and apply pressure on Israel to stop the invasion, occupation, and genocide.
“When Labor MP’s get out of Canberra, I expect them to go back to communities disappointed that Labor continues to be a roadblock for an end to the invasion, and to branches furious that their representatives broke an election promise to recognise Palestine.
“Members of the Labor party will have their chance to cross the floor in the House and Senate. With pressure growing on Labor MPs from the Greens and hundreds of thousands of Australians pushing for peace, including from Labor branches themselves, the gutlessness of any Labor member opposing these motions will be on full display.
“The Government has imposed sanctions on Russia, North Korea, Iran - just to name a few - and it is time for the Australian Government to put sanctions on members of the Netanyahu government.”
Full text of the motion:
I move - That the Senate -
a) notes that the Albanese Government has imposed autonomous sanctions on persons and entities connected to North Korea, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, the Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Russia, Syria and Zimbabwe.
b) notes that despite documented independent investigations by the United Nations that show clear violations of international law, the Australian Government has not imposed any autonomous sanctions on any person or entity complicit in the genocide and war crimes being perpetrated by the State of Israel.
c) calls on the Government to sanction members of the extremist Netanyahu government, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.