Federal election 2019: Labor MP Tony Burke defends his party’s policy on Israel-Palestine

Federal MP Tony Burke has defended his party’s policy on Israel-Palestine after comments from some of his Labor colleagues sparked national controversy.

Speaking at the launch of Australia’s second musical hub in Leederville this morning, the Member for Sydney’s division of Watson disputed claims comments made by Fremantle MP Josh Wilson, former Curtin Labor candidate Melissa Parke and Sydney MP Susan Templeman were anti-Semitic.

A video emerged this week of Mr Wilson describing Israeli checkpoints as “places you go to and you go to jail... sometimes they are places you go to and you die”, and Ms Parke was forced to quit the election last Friday after it was revealed she had told the inaugural meeting of the WA Labor for Palestine group she could “remember vividly” the case of “a pregnant refugee woman (who) was ordered at a checkpoint in Gaza to drink a bottle of bleach”.

Mr Burke said his Party’s policy on Israel-Palestine had always been clear.

“Labor’s policy for a two-state solution is straightforward, it’s clear, Josh Wilson supports it, the Labor Party supports it, and any attempt to argue we’ve got a different policy than that is incorrect,” he said.

“We support Israel and Palestine as being eventually two full states within secure borders.

“I don’t accept that the comments are (anti-Semitic). Anti-Semitism is a deeply serious charge which should not be thrown around.”

Liberal MP Alan Tudge disagreed, saying the comments were “absolutely anti-Semitic” and joining in calls for Mr Wilson to resign.

As he announced a $20 million congestion-busting project at the Lloyd Street Bridge in Hasluck today, Mr Tudge claimed many Labor Party members were antagonistic towards Israel and had been for a long time.

“Josh Wilson should resign over that,” he said.

“Melissa Parke resigned over the comments she made and Josh Wilson made equally poor comments, effectively saying Israeli soldiers killed Palestinians at the gate.

“It’s atrocious, it’s an offensive comment, and as the Attorney-General called for he should probably resign.”

Video also emerged this week of Ms Templeman likening the situation in the West Bank to apartheid.

Mr Burke would not say whether he agreed with hers or any other comments.

“I’m not going to get in and out of different comments that have been made. Labor’s policy is as I’ve stated and Labor’s policy is what we support,” he said.