Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Australia marks Israel's 60th year

From JPost.com Mar 12, 2008, by JPOST.COM STAFF :

The Australian parliament commemorated Israel's 60 years of independence Wednesday, and leaders pledged their commitment to the country's security and stated their "respect for the Israeli cause..." ...

The motion was put forward by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and seconded by Opposition leader Brendan Nelson.

...One Labor MP as well as two powerful unions were opposed...

...and from The Australian, by Paul Maley March 12, 2008:

Labor MP boycotts Israel anniversary

...Labor MP Julia Irwin made good on her threat to boycott the motion commemorating the Israel’s founding and the role Australia played in it, by absenting herself from the chamber.

A spokeswoman for Ms Irwin’s office confirmed her absence was a deliberate act of protest.

Ms Irwin has been a frequent critic of Israel’s conduct in the Israel-Palestine dispute and spoke against the motion at a party room meeting earlier this week. She attempted to table an annual report from human rights group Amnesty International which she said made plain Israel’s human rights abuses....

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