Extraordinary archived footage has resurfaced showing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slamming Israel for ‘creating a humanitarian crisis in Palestine’ during a speech to Parliament more than two decades ago.
A clip of Mr Albanese condemning Israel in a speech to the House of Representatives in 2002 – when he was the Labor Opposition’s spokesman for employment services and training – has been circulating among pro-Palestine activists amid the anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attacks.
In the long-forgotten speech, a transcript of which is still published on the PM’s website, Mr Albanese addressed violent acts committed by both sides in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York.
But the Labor MP largely spoke of the violence that Israel had inflicted upon Palestinians and the speech featured phrases sympathetic to Palestinians, such as ‘Palestinians experience Israelis as occupiers’.
Mr Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have copped heavy criticism for the government’s stance since the current conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused the PM of ‘trying to speak out of both sides of his mouth’ in Parliament on Tuesday, by trying to incorporate tributes to Lebanese and Palestinian victims into a parliamentary motion paying tribute to the victims of the October 7 massacre.
Mr Albanese’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict in 2002 appeared to be significantly sharper in tone than his comments since becoming the head of government.
‘In the battle for hearts and minds, there is no room for ambiguity when it comes to respect for human rights,’ he said.
Anthony Albanese is pictured addressing the House of Representatives in 2002, when he was a shadow minister
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured in the House of Representatives on Tuesday
Mr Albanese went on: ‘The creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and subsequent events have produced up to 3.8 million Palestinian refugees to date.
‘Self defence is not a blank cheque and responding to terrorism does not in any way free Israel from its obligations under international law, nor does it justify creating a human rights and humanitarian crisis in Palestine.’
He condemned Israel for using tanks, helicopters with guns, and F16 fighter jets against a population with no military and no protective institutions, along with the US for giving $3billion to the Jewish state.
‘Israelis continue to demonise all Palestinians as terrorists, Palestinians experience Israelis as occupiers and employers of cheap labour, interrogators and jailers’.
‘It is up to all of us to try to see both sides of this conflict and to apply pressure where we can to try to redress the repressive policies of the Israeli government and its military and to oppose the extremists of the Palestinian side who engage in terrorism.’
Mr Albanese expressed his support for a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians would co-exist peacefully alongside one another – something his government publicly supports 22 years later.
Footage of the speech has circulated among pro-Palestine supporters and Greens staffers in recent weeks. One commented online: ‘This guy should be Prime Minister, much better than the guy we have got now.’
Another said: ‘What happened to that guy?’
A third user wrote: ‘PM Albanese has different “western values” now.
The Israel-Palestine conflict has plunged the government into choppy waters and seen it cop broadsides from across the spectrum.
In Labor’s own ranks, WA Senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor over the issue, supporting a Greens motion, before she resigned from the Labor Party altogether.
She has since spoke stridently against the violence inflicted upon Palestinians by the Israeli Defence Force, and on Wednesday announced her own political party called Australia’s Voice.
Meanwhile, Mr Dutton got cheers from the crowd delivering a speech to Jewish Australians to mark the anniversary of October 7 in Sydney – while Mr Albanese copped jeers at a similar event in Melbourne.
Anthony Albanese is pictured, centre, at an October 7 event in Melbourne on Monday
Some people held signs saying ‘Shame on you Albo’ (pictured) and accusing the PM of not supporting Israel
On Tuesday, Mr Albanese opened Parliament on Tuesday by introducing a motion to condemn Hamas‘ October 7 attack on Israel, paying tribute to ‘every single innocent life’ in the violence.
‘Our government has consistently and repeatedly called for a ceasefire for the release of all hostages and for the protection of all civilians,’ he said.
‘We remain committed to a two state solution as a path to an enduring peace, two states, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side with prosperity and security for their people.’
However, in a scathing speech – and a noticeable break from the bipartisanship around these issues – Mr Dutton refused to back the motion.
Mr Dutton accused Mr Albanese of putting forward a motion which also recognised Palestinians, rather than solely focusing on the anniversary of 1200 Israeli deaths at the hands of terrorists.
He told the House of Representatives that it was clear he could not support the motion on Tuesday morning, after he met with Mr Albanese.
‘I think when you go to the detail of what the Prime Minister’s proposed, it becomes clearer why the coalition cannot support this motion before the house at the moment.
‘This government has sought to walk both sides of the street … The Prime Minister should be condemned.’
Mr Dutton said the motion goes beyond what should have a tribute to the 1,200 Israelis who died on October 7.
The Prime Minister declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
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