Greens leader Adam Bandt has been called out by an Australian Jew over his party’s alleged sympathy for Hamas, accusing him of sending the ‘death to Israel’ message.
Paul Roberts raised the issue during Monday night’s Q+A panel program on the ABC, as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its third week following the terrorist group’s attack on Israel on October 7.
“As an Australian Jew, I have been comforted in recent weeks by the concerns and support I have received from the Australian public and from the government and opposition,” Roberts said.
‘Adam Bandt, are the Greens able to distinguish between terrorism and those who fight terrorism, and will the Greens distance themselves from the Australian protesters who are calling for a Palestine to replace Israel, rather than living in peace with Israel? ‘
Mr Bandt said the Greens condemned Hamas’ actions.
Pictured: A pro-Palestinian rally outside the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, October 9, 2023
‘We did that immediately. Taking hostages is a war crime and the perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice. So we are crystal clear about that,” said Mr Bandt.
But he went on to say that the occupation of the Palestinian territories had “pushed them into this open-air prison.”
“We need a peace process so that both Palestinians and Israelis can live in the just peace and security they are entitled to.”
Q+A Host Patricia Karvelas asked Mr. Roberts if he was satisfied with Mr. Bandt’s denunciation of anti-Semitism and some of the extremist things you’ve heard at these meetings.
‘No, because we won’t be back here in five years, but we will be back here in months if Hamas is not dismantled. Their only existence is to kill all of Israel worldwide,” Roberts said.
‘When you hear people speaking at meetings, where they say: ‘from the river to the sea, people must be free’ – the river is the Jordan and Israel is the sea.
“You are sending a message to me as an Australian Jew that you are political partners of organizations seeking the death of Israel.”
Mr Bandt said this was not his position, nor that of the Greens.
Fellow panelists Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, a Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nations and CEO of the progressive activist group GetUp, said she didn’t see the phrase “from the river to the sea” in the same way.
Greens leader Adam Bandt has been called out by an Australian Jew over his party’s alleged sympathy for Hamas, accusing him of sending the ‘death to Israel’ message.
Palestinians inspect a devastated area after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, October 23, 2023
She wore a Palestinian scarf to show support for the Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
“For First Nations people, there is incredible solidarity here. We are talking about securing a free future for Palestine,” she said.
“We’re talking about the freedom to perpetuate your language and your culture, not just to survive, but to thrive as human beings.”
She received applause for the answer, but later groaned for her response to the slogan and why Jewish people might find it offensive.
“I don’t believe it’s hate speech,” she said.
‘I understand why people say this, and people see this as a call for freedom. I understand that you can also see this in another way.’
Sydney teenager Saim Saeed, who lives in a predominantly Palestinian community, said he felt betrayed by the government as he believed “the response was very one-sided and unfair to them”, especially with the lighting of the Opera House in support of Israel. .
“Could the government have been more sympathetic to the Palestinian people at a time of heightened tension?” he asked the panel.
Albanian Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the government had condemned Hamas, not the Palestinian people, for the attack.
Q+A host Patricia Karvelas asked if Mr Roberts was satisfied with Mr Bandt’s answer, which he was not
“I think most Australians were quite shocked and appalled by the brutality of the Hamas invasion, and we certainly made the point in Parliament that our condemnation was against Hamas, the terrorist organization, and not against the Palestinian people who in many cases respect, are innocent victims in this entire conflict.”
But he deflected on the Opera House lighting, saying it was a matter for the NSW government and its guidelines for when the icon is used to show support.
“I think that was probably appropriate in the circumstances, given the expressions of support that existed within the Australian community for Israel and the motions that had been passed in Parliament,” he said.
Ms Baldwin-Roberts also addressed the issue.
“It’s symbolism, but I would say people want material rights, not pretty lights,” she said.