Former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer has ripped into the Albanese government for having “totally destroyed” Australia’s diplomatic influence over its stance on the conflict in the Middle East.
Former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer slams Labor for turning Australia into a 'laughing stock' over Israel stance
Speaking to Sky News host Chris Kenny on Thursday evening, Mr Downer said it was “worrying” the Labor government had “totally destroyed” Australia’s influence in the Middle East and around the world over its stance on Israel. “These days they're not an environmental party,” Mr Downer said, referring to the Greens and their apparent anti-Israel stance on the floor of parliament and the city streets.On October 7 this year, the Greens branded the Israeli government as “extremist” for pushing Lebanon to the “brink of collapse” as it combats Hezbollah terrorists on the border who have fired thousands of rockets at civilians.
Labor’s version of the motion – which passed the lower house without Coalition support – included references to Gazan and Lebanese civilian victims alongside Israeli victims. Mr Downer claimed the Australian government is “totally ignored” because countries around the world knew its stance on the Middle East was “just domestic politics”, and nothing more.“Muslim voters will shift their votes on this issue, and that’s the point.”
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