Decision to sanction is surprising, but not for the reasons you might think

The decision to sanction seven individuals and one youth group in Israel is surprising.

Don’t get me wrong; it was the right decision.

Those listed are allegedly responsible for disturbing violence and should be held to account. 

The Coalition has long called for Magnitsky-style sanctions to be exercised as we hold to account human rights abusers. This is why when in government, the Coalition introduced the mechanism in the first place.

However, those listed were sanctioned by our allies almost six months ago. Once again, the Federal Labor Government are dragging their feet when it comes to doing the right thing. But still, that is not surprising.

What is surprising is that the Albanese Government’s statement, and their decision, seems to imply that the State of Israel is an obstacle to peace. The statement reads: “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace.”

The most significant obstacle to peace has nothing to do with Israel, and everything to do with foreign-funded terror perpetrated by Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi and many others, with the support of Iran and their so-called Axis of Resistance.

Let’s not forget why we’re here.

On October 7 last year, nearly 3,000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, murdering 1200 innocent Israelis and kidnapping around 250 men, women and children. They were followed by swathes of civilians stepping over dead and wounded Israelis to loot and destroy what remained. Mass rape, torture, murder and indiscriminate destruction contributed to the largest single-day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.

In the immediate aftermath, Anthony Albanese and his government swore black-and-blue that they had Israel’s back. They spoke with Jewish communities and Israeli leaders to tell them as such.

And yet in the months that have followed, we have seen an unceasing show of support for Palestine, amounting to nothing short of endorsement for the barbaric violence of Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and their international allies.

From university campuses to the support of United Nations’ resolutions, the abject failure and utterly weak leadership from Anthony Albanese has shown that he simply cannot be trusted to do what’s right when the going gets tough.

All of this comes after two years of mixed messages on Israel and antisemitism, on Iran and counter-terrorism, and on China and the application of international law.

In Opposition, they called for action on human rights abuses against the Uyghur population in China. Despite growing international pressure, Labor seem content to sit on their hands and watch the Chinese Communist Party breach international law with absolute impunity.

They still refuse to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terror group under Australian law, despite the overwhelming evidence that they have been complicit in vile acts of terror.

Why is this Labor Government so focused on complying with the demands of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority? Why are they so quick to ignore the plight of Jewish communities and point the finger at the State of Israel?

Why won’t they turn their attention to the funders and facilitators of terror in the Islamic Republic of Iran? Why won’t they stand up to the Chinese Communist Party in the face of actual genocide, oppression and mass murder? 

Once again, what we have is one rule for Israel, and another for terrorists and their sympathisers.

What inhibits peace more than any so-called settlement is the failure of the west – and the likes of Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese – to stand up to terror, speak up for the Jewish people, and show up when it counts.

Labor’s gutless, reckless and careless leadership has weakened Australia’s security, sovereignty and standing. We cannot afford an Australian Government which fails to stand up for what is right. We cannot afford a Prime Minister who speaks out of both sides of his mouth on issues of Australia’s national character and security.

Only when the hostages are released, Hamas is destroyed, and Iran and their international proxies lay down their arms will this war be over.

The Albanese Government must rededicate itself to disrupting and destroying Hamas and its terrorist allies. The Albanese Government must speak out on behalf of the 116 Israeli hostages who remain in captivity.

Now is the time for strong moral and political leadership.

If he doesn’t have the guts to lead from the front, then the Prime Minister should step aside or call an election.