Extraordinary footage resurfaces of Anthony Albanese at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney
Extraordinary footage has emerged of Anthony Albanese addressing supporters at a free Palestinian rally early in his political career.
The decades-old grainy footage shows the future prime minister condemning the actions of the Israeli military during a protest at Martin Place in Sydney’s CBD.
The clip obtained by Sky News shows Mr Albanese among a crowd of protesters standing next to a banner that read: ‘Stop Israeli carnage, liberate Palestine now’.
He has seen a megaphone condemning Israel’s actions.
The old footage shows the future Prime Minister addressing the crowd through a megaphone at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney
“Israel’s response was that children threw stones with helicopters, with tanks and with rockets,” the future prime minister is quoted as saying.
The images show Mr Albanese as a ‘federal Labor MP’. He has been a member of Grayndler since 1996.
The clip was broadcast by Sky News presenter Sharri Markson on her program on Wednesday evening when she decried the prime minister’s “baffling” comments this week on the Hamas-Israel conflict.
“Mr. Albanese has spoken out against Israel and in support of the Palestinians throughout his career,” she said.
‘We now see the Albanians showing his true colors. He could only stay on message for so long.β
Mr Albanese has dismissed the pro-Palestinian rally held outside the Sydney Opera House on October 9, saying it was “horrific” and admitting it should not have happened.
Members of the rally were heard chanting “gas the Jews,” others threw flares at police, while some tried to set fire to the Israeli flag before stomping on it.
The Prime Minister is currently in the US, where he met US President Joe Biden at the White House and attended a state dinner on Wednesday.
He recently announced that he will not visit Israel, unlike President Biden, raising questions among Australian Jewish leaders.
The Prime Minister has also not spoken to Israeli colleague Benjamin Netanyahu since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
A younger Anthony Albanese (circled) was spotted early in his political career at a protest in Sydney condemning the actions of the Israeli army
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (second from left) and his partner Jodie Haydon (left) are currently in the US. They are pictured at the White House with US President and wife Jill (right)
It comes as Mr Albanese refused to respond to French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for world leaders to join forces in the fight against Hamas.
βOur priority is to get people out in Israel, but also in Gaza, who want to leave and are Australian citizens,β Albanese told reporters in the US this week.
“We also continued to emphasize the importance of humanitarian support for people in Gaza.”
βI continue to emphasize that Australia’s position is to protect innocent lives. As a nation, we mourn every innocent life lost in the conflict, whether Israeli or Palestinian.β
Australian Jewish Association president David Adler criticized Mr Albanese for not making a trip to Israel.
βHe is currently traveling (to the US), we would have liked to see him go through Israel to show solidarity at this time,β Mr Adler said.
‘There still needs to be a senior Australian representative to make that gesture. It should be the Prime Minister as the leader of the country.
‘The trip should have been arranged, he is in the northern hemisphere after all and showing solidarity would have been well received.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese looks on as President Biden addresses the media during a joint press conference at the White House on Wednesday