Extraordinary archive footage has resurfaced showing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticizing Israel for “creating a humanitarian crisis in Palestine” during a speech to Parliament more than two decades ago.
A video of Mr Albanese condemning Israel in a speech to the House of Representatives in 2002 – when he was Labor Opposition spokesman for employment and training services – has been circulating among pro-Palestinian activists amid the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on October 7.
In the long-forgotten speech, the transcript of which is still posted on the Prime Minister’s website, Albanese addressed the violent acts committed by both sides following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York.
But the Labor MP spoke largely of the violence Israel had inflicted on the Palestinians and the speech included phrases sympathetic to the Palestinians, such as “Palestinians feel the Israelis are occupiers.”
Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have come under heavy criticism for the government’s stance since the current conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7, 2023.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton on Tuesday accused the prime minister of “trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth” in Parliament by attempting to incorporate tributes to Lebanese and Palestinian victims into a parliamentary motion paying tribute to the victims. of the massacre of October 7.
Albanese’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2002 appeared to be significantly sharper in tone than his comments since becoming head of government.
“In the battle for hearts and minds, there is no room for ambiguity when it comes to respect for human rights,” he said.
Anthony Albanese is pictured addressing the House of Representatives in 2002, when he was a shadow minister.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Mr Albanese continued: ‘The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and subsequent events have produced up to 3.8 million Palestinian refugees to date.
“Self-defense is not a blank check and responding to terrorism in no way relieves Israel of its obligations under international law, nor does it justify the creation of a humanitarian and human rights crisis in Palestine.”
He condemned Israel for using tanks, armed helicopters and F16 fighter jets against a population without an army or protective institutions, along with the United States for giving $3 billion to the Jewish State.
“Israelis continue to demonize all Palestinians as terrorists, Palestinians see Israelis as occupiers and employers of cheap labor, interrogators and jailers.”
‘It is up to all of us to try to see both sides of this conflict and apply pressure where we can to try to correct the repressive policies of the Israeli government and its military and oppose extremists on the Palestinian side who engage in terrorism.’
Albanese expressed support for a two-state solution in which Israelis and Palestinians would peacefully coexist side by side, something his government publicly supports 22 years later.
Footage of the speech has circulated among Palestine supporters and Greens staff in recent weeks. Someone commented online: “This guy should be Prime Minister, much better than the one we have now.”
Another said: ‘What happened to that guy?’
A third user wrote: ‘Prime Minister Albanese now has different “Western values”.
The conflict between Israel and Palestine has plunged the government into troubled waters and has had to face attacks from across the spectrum.
Within Labor’s own ranks, Washington Senator Fatima Payman crossed the floor to discuss the issue, supporting a Greens motion, before resigning from the Labor Party entirely.
Since then, he has spoken out stridently against the violence inflicted on Palestinians by the Israel Defense Forces and on Wednesday announced his own political party called The Voice of Australia.
Meanwhile, Dutton received applause from the crowd who gave a speech to Jewish Australians to mark the October 7 anniversary in Sydney, while Albanese received boos at a similar event in Melbourne.
Anthony Albanese is pictured, centre, at an October 7 event in Melbourne on Monday.
Some people held signs saying “Shame on you, Albo” (pictured) and accused the prime minister of not supporting Israel.
On Tuesday, Mr. Albanese opened Parliament on Tuesday by tabling a motion to condemn Hamas‘October 7 attack Israelpaying tribute to “every single innocent life” in the violence.
“Our government has consistently and repeatedly called for a ceasefire for the release of all hostages and the protection of all civilians,” he said.
“We remain committed to a two-state solution as a path to lasting peace, two States, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully side by side with prosperity and security for their people.”
However, in a scathing speech (and a notable break with bipartisanship on these issues), Dutton refused to support the motion.
Dutton accused Albanese of introducing a motion that also recognized Palestinians, instead of focusing solely on the anniversary of 1,200 Israeli deaths at the hands of terrorists.
He told the House of Representatives that it was clear he could not support the motion on Tuesday morning, after meeting with Albanese.
“I think when you look at the details of what the Prime Minister proposed, it becomes clearer why the coalition cannot support this motion in the House at this time.
“This government has tried to walk both sides of the street… The Prime Minister should be condemned.”
Dutton said the motion goes beyond what should be a tribute to the 1,200 Israelis who died on October 7.
The Prime Minister declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.