Labor hypocrisy on Israel a domestic political stunt

The federal government appointment of a senior ex-ADF officer as a special envoy to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the Australian aid worker in Gaza is naive and ignorant (“Senior Digger to lead Israel probe”, 8/4).

By pursuing this course of action the Albanese government is openly seen to be pandering to Labor seats with a high proportion of Muslim voters and, worse still, allowing itself to become another gullible Western “puppet on a string” to Hamas propaganda.

Anthony Albanese would be better served by displaying a more circumspect response that recognises Hamas is the cause of this war and that Hamas alone has the power to end it tomorrow.

Tom Moylan, Dudley Park, WA

In a conflict that is as politically charged as the war in Gaza, claim and counterclaim are ubiquitous and “moral equivalence” is the catchcry.

The battle for hearts and minds is on in earnest, and the killing of seven aid workers has significantly moved the dial against Israel internationally.

The call from senior Democrats that the US – a hitherto all-in supporter of Israel’s response to the heinous and indiscriminate October 7 slaying of innocent Jews – suspend arms supplies and demand an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza is clear evidence that Hamas is winning the propaganda war.

Australia is not immune. The appointment of Mark Binskin as a Special Adviser to monitor and assess the response to the aid worker deaths is overreach. With the fracture of support for the Jewish state, one thing is certain: the West’s natural enemies are emboldened.

Kim Keogh, Claremont, WA

The response by the Albanese government in respect of the Australian aid worker killed by the IDF attack on the vehicle she and her colleagues were in is warranted and reasonable, but I don’t recall any comparative action nor outrage by Foreign Minister Penny Wong when an Australian citizen, grandmother Galit Carbone, was murdered by Hamas militants during their attack on Israel on October 7.

This is just another example of Wong holding Israel to a higher standard than she does Hamas, even though it was Hamas who broke a ceasefire and started this conflagration.

John Pohlman, Leopold, Vic

On Monday, Anthony Albanese noted the appointment of Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin as a Special Adviser to the government to scrutinise the Israeli investigation into the tragic strike on the aid workers in Gaza. Apart from the extraordinary move by the government – essentially saying we do not trust a fellow democracy with values similar to ours – the Prime Minister noted the purpose of Binskin’s investigation was to ensure such incidents “never happen again”.

Albanese might consult our military, or those of the UK, Canada and the US, to understand that warfare does not always work out as planned and accidents do happen. Of course, the PM could short-circuit all of this by showing solidarity with Israel and visiting the sites of the Hamas attack and speaking to survivors, first responders and the IDF.

He might then get a better idea of the circumstances under which vehicles travelling at night in an active fire zone might be mistakenly targeted.

Michael Neustein, Bondi, NSW

How hypercritical and one-eyed are Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong and Labor? On October 7, 1200 innocent Israel citizens were murdered, mutilated and abducted by Hamas. It took the Prime Minister weeks to talk to Benjamin Netanyahu. Wong was in Israel and never went to any of the massacre sites. Only two minor Labor MPs have gone. After the unfortunate death of an Australian aid worker Albanese was on the phone to Netanyahu within days, demanding an investigation and answers. Along with Wong and other Labor hypocrites they have spent the last week damning Israel, demanding answers and condemning anyone involved.

They have spent more time making political hay on this tragedy than on focusing on the last six months of the war. What would happen if Hamas killed an Australian aid worker? I think it is fair to ask if the rhetoric would be the same. What is the Special Adviser going to do and how is he going to scrutinise the tragic death?

David Barnes, Wallsend, NSW