Senator Scott Ryan will move a motion in the Senate condemning the ongoing rocket attacks against Israel.
Senator Ryan, the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Fair Competition and a Liberal senator for Victoria, lodged the motion, which is expected to come up for vote on Wednesday in the Senate.
The motion reads as follows:
That the Senate—
1) Condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip;
2) Supports Israel’s right to defend itself against these unacceptable and indiscriminate attacks;
3) Calls on Hamas to immediately cease the rocket and mortar attacks on Israel;
4) Notes that Australia has listed the military arm of Hamas as a terrorist organisation;
5) Expresses concern over pro-Hamas rallies in Australia.
“While Australians go to sleep at night expecting to be awoken by an alarm clock, millions in Israel go to sleep in fear of being woken by a code red siren warning of rocket attacks,” Senator Ryan said.
“Every nation has the duty to defend its citizens from violence. It is unacceptable that hundreds of thousands of Israelis continue to face the threat of lethal rocket attacks each and every day from Hamas. The Israeli Government has no choice but to address this threat.”
“As Tony Abbott made clear last week, the latest escalation of conflict highlights the importance of Israel and the Palestinians reaching compromise and achieving a lasting two-state solution. But this can only occur when Hamas renounces violence and explicitly accepts the existence of Israel.”
Senator Ryan also expressed particular concern over the proposed activities of NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon. According to media reports, Senator Rhiannon is planning to address a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney, which some Palestinian advocates have warned could become violent. The rally is being organised by the Palestine Action Group, a group that has participated in the discredited BDS movement.
“I attended the Stop the Rockets rally on Sunday in Melbourne and was heartened by all the messages for peace,” Senator Ryan said. “Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve peace, but this can only come once Hamas renounces all use of violence.”