Simple map shows why there are cracks at the highest level of Anthony Albanese’s government over Israel-Hamas war – as PM and Penny Wong pull shock move at the UN

Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong’s decision to vote in favor of a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas has drawn sharp criticism from Israel and Jewish groups.

But it shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise given comments from four neighboring Labor Party officials about the conflict.

Industry Minister Ed Husic, House Leader Tony Burke, Education Minister Jason Clare and Energy Minister Chris Bowen spoke sympathetically about the Palestinians’ plight.

Some were criticized for deviating from the government’s position at the time. Each of the ministers represents neighboring electorates with large Islamic communities in western Sydney.

Australia’s first Muslim minister, Ed Husick, represents the community of Chifley in Sydney’s west, which covers suburbs such as Quakers Hill, Riverstone and Schofields, and was one of the first Labor MPs to stray from the party line.

In October, Husic said Israel was “collectively punishing the Palestinians for Hamas’ barbarity.”

Cabinet minister and Cowen MP Anne Ali, who is also Muslim, backed his comments, as did Labor Senate newcomer Fatima Payman.

Education Minister Jason Clare has also reportedly asked senior ministers to show greater sympathy for the Palestinian cause. His Blaxland seat includes suburbs such as Merrylands and Auburn, which have large Muslim populations.

Mr Clare told News Corp: “The plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip is heartbreaking. My community feels this more than most.

“These are not just dead bodies on TV, for many in my community they are family.”

Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke also appears to reflect the values ​​of local residents in his western Sydney electorate of Watson.

Mr Burke supported Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s decision to fly the Palestinian flag, publicly visited memorials for Palestinian civilians and said his community was devastated by the “images of dead babies” coming out of the Gaza Strip.

Its electorate represents some of the most diverse parts of Australia, including Lakemba, Punchbowl and Bankstown.

During an ABC radio interview, Burke was asked what he would say to people who called the situation a “genocide” against Palestine.

“I think your listeners will find their own words to describe it,” he said.

Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein criticized Burke at the time, saying he had “crossed the line.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chair Alex Ryvchin said the interview was a clear example of how “language matters and leadership matters”, adding that the council “expects better”.

“Genocide is not a fashionable word. This is the most heinous crime a nation can commit, and it involves the deliberate extermination of an ethnic group,” Mr. Ryvchin said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen, whose McMahon electorate has nearly 25,000 Muslim residents, recently said: “Israel can only be truly safe and free when Palestine is safe and free.”

“Ultimately, this is our long-term goal.

“You can believe in the legitimate aspirations and rights of the Palestinian people without in any sense justifying or condemning Hamas’s abhorrent actions.”

Mr Bowen said both Islamophobia and antisemitism in Australia should be “equally condemned”.

After months of official Labor Party support for Israel’s right to self-defense, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong shocked some members of the Labor caucus when they backed the UN call for a ceasefire.

Just six weeks ago, Australia abstained from a similar vote.

But the government faces growing pressure from all sides of the debate. The coalition and Jewish groups accused the Labor Party of being soft on Hamas and not doing enough to condemn the October 7 terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile, the Greens and left-wing supporters are calling on the government to be more forceful in its calls for restraint.

According to new reports, the couple did not consult their party before making this decision, which was contrary to the position of our strongest ally, the United States.

Great Britain abstained from voting.

Jewish Liberal MP Julian Leeser criticized the government’s support for the ceasefire recommendation, accusing it of trying to secure inner-city votes and showing “weakness” on the crisis.

And opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume said: “The truce will only keep Hamas in power, capable of rearming, reorganizing and repeating the deliberate murder, rape, beheading and kidnapping of innocent people.”

While Senator Wong argues the decision is consistent with the government’s long-standing position on the conflict, Jewish groups say it creates “uncertainty and confusion” at a time when anti-Semitism is already on the rise in society.

Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said: “I find it difficult to understand how Australia can support Israel’s right to protect its people from terrorist aggression while voting in favor of a ceasefire that would embolden Hamas and allow it to resume attacks on Israelis. .

“Australia’s vote came a day after Israel returned the remains of two slain hostages from the Gaza Strip as rocket fire continued to hit southern Israel. This war can only end with the complete defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages.”

Mr Albanese issued a joint letter with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Christopher Luxon in New Zealand acknowledging they were “alarmed by the shrinking safe space for civilians in the Gaza Strip”.

“We recognize Israel’s right to exist and the right to defend itself. In defending itself, Israel must respect international humanitarian law. The civilian population and civilian infrastructure must be protected,” the letter says.

Josh Burns, the Jewish MP who represents Melbourne’s McNamara constituency and one of the largest Jewish populations in the country, recently returned from a trip to Israel, where he reaffirmed his unwavering support for the nation and its response to the Hamas attack.

While there, he stated that “any ceasefire cannot be unilateral and must be agreed upon between the two sides.”

He later said that a UN ceasefire resolution would not solve the crisis.

“The only way out of this terrible situation is the release of the hostages and the removal of Hamas from power in the Gaza Strip.

“It’s not going to end with wanting it to happen.”

Burns’ grandmother fled Nazi Germany and settled in Australia.

Matt Thistlethwaite also represents the large Jewish population in Kingsford Smith in Sydney’s east.

He has repeatedly said Australia supports Israel and condemned the Hamas attack on October 7.

But on Thursday he backed the UN call for a humanitarian ceasefire, arguing that the resolution still “condemns the actions of Hamas.”

“The resolution makes clear that Australia undoubtedly condemns the actions of Hamas, calls for the immediate release of the hostages and recognizes Israel’s right to self-defence,” he said.

“But it says that international humanitarian law must be respected… We had a humanitarian pause, which allowed aid, especially food and water, to reach the region.

“We want this humanitarian pause to be restored so that aid can return to the region.”

Two other electorates with significant Jewish populations favored Teal in recent elections – Zoe Daniels’ Goldstein and Allegra Spender’s Wentworth.