Andrew Leigh (Fenner, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ido Avigal, aged five; Nadine Awad, aged 16; Ahmad Tanani, aged two; nine-month-old Mohammad Dayyeh; Hoor al-Zamli, aged two; six-month-old Ibrahim al-Rantisi; nine-month-old Mohammad al-Attar; Buthaina Obaid, aged six; Yamen Hatab, aged five; Adam al-Qawlaq, aged three; Lana Ishkantna, aged five; Mina Sharir, aged two; three-month-old Yazan al-Masry—these are just some of the innocent Palestinian and Israeli children killed in recent fighting. Hamas's rocket attacks on civilians are ruthless and cruel. But so too are Israeli killings of Palestinian children. As Nicholas Kristof reminds us: 'If you oppose war crimes only by your enemies, it's not clear that you actually oppose war crimes.' The expansion of settlements by the Netanyahu government, discriminatory laws against Arab citizens, and the street fighting that Israeli President Reuven Rivlin calls 'a civil war' have made a two-state solution harder. Yes, Israel treats its Arab citizens better than some Middle Eastern countries treat their Arab citizens. But democracies should welcome being held to a higher standard. As David Ben-Gurion once noted, Israel cannot be Jewish, and Democratic, and occupy all the lands of greater Israel.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.