Thu. Dec 12th, 2024
alert-–-ex-australian-prime-ministers-sign-letter-slamming-hamas-–-but-there-is-one-very-conspicuous-absenceAlert – Ex-Australian Prime Ministers sign letter slamming Hamas – but there is one very conspicuous absence

A monumental letter penned by six former prime ministers has condemned the ‘hatred’ being spread by Hamas, with Paul Keating’s signature noticeably absent. 

All living former prime ministers bar Keating came together to pledge their support for Israel at the request of the Zionist Federation of on Monday. 

In the two page letter, John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison call for an end to the vilification of people on all sides of the conflict. 

‘If our hearts are filled with hatred, then we will be doing the terrorists’ work,’ the letter reads. 

John Howard, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott , Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison (pictured) released a joint statement on Monday calling for civility amidst the Israeli-Palestine war which continues to rage in the middle east

Paul Keating was the only living former prime minister to abstain from signing the letter but did not provide a reason for doing so 

‘Hamas’ one true goal is to spread hatred and relish in the killing of innocent civilians. 

‘Their mission is to promote hatred – hatred of Israelis, hatred of Jews, hatred of Palestinians, hatred of Muslims.

‘Whatever is happening elsewhere in the world, there is no place for racial or religious hatred.

‘No complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech against any n, or any n community.’

READ MORE: Outrage after abstains in UN resolution vote

The Albanese government has sparked backlash after abstaining from a United Nations motion calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Advertisement

The former leaders wrote that the vast majority of ns stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, who have suffered ‘the single largest massacre … since the holocaust’.

They also shared their sympathies for the n Palestinian community who have lost their families and friends in the war. 

‘They too deserve our love and support,’ they wrote. 

The letter reiterated ‘s long-standing support of a two-state solution to end the conflict.

It also pressed the need for Israel to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.

‘We call for sustained humanitarian access to ensure essential supplies can reach innocent Palestinians,’ it read. 

‘We endorse, as we did in office, the n Government’s enduring support for a two-state solution as the basis for long-term lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.’

The letter, which was personally written by the former prime ministers, ended by misspelling Scott Morrison’s name incorrectly.

It was signed by ‘The Hon. Scott Morisson MP’. 

Former prime minister Keating said that the head of the United Israel Appeal of , Mark Leibler, had asked him to join the signatories but that he had declined.

‘I told Liebler in a written message that I would not be agreeing to join other former Prime Ministers in authorising the statement,’ he wrote in statement posted to X on Sunday.

‘That remains my position.’ 

The letter arrives after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese abstained from voting in a UN resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas.

n Jewish Community president Jeremy Leibler told The Age the letter ‘transcends politics’.

Paul Keating confirmed on Sunday that he chose not to take part in the bipartisan letter, despite being asked by the head of the United Israel Appeal of , Mark Leibler

Israel declared war on Hamas on October 7 after the terrorist group invaded southern Israel, kidnapped hundreds of people and killing more

‘This statement reinforces the longstanding bipartisan support of Israel from successive n governments,’ Leibler said.

‘The prime ministers’ decisions to individually sign, and jointly release such a statement today sends a message to the world that ns understand what is right and what is wrong and will not stand back when leadership is needed the most.

‘We are humbled and touched by their support.’

The unprecedented letter comes at a time of great domestic unrest in . 

The country’s major cities have seen weekly rallies from both the Palestinian and Jewish communities, and Nazis have been spotted in the street.

Shortly after the war began a pro-Palestine protest at the Opera House became so dangerous that police told Jewish people were told to stay home after protestors began chanting ‘gas the Jews’. 

A couple of days later three men were arrested after being caught doing Nazi salutes outside of the Jewish Museum in Sydney on October 13. 

That same day a band of two dozen Nazis were witnessed by  asking passengers aboard a Melbourne train whether they were Jewish. 

Read the full statement by former Prime Ministers of

All of us are former Prime Ministers of .

Our multicultural nation’s success is founded on the n values that we all share and the respect we show for our fellow ns’ diversity of cultures and faiths. 

Whatever is happening elsewhere in the world, there is no place in our country for racial or religious hatred.

And there is no more tenaciously evil race hatred than antisemitism.

Our n Jewish community, directly affected by the terrible crimes of Hamas, not only has to endure the loss and suffering of their families in Israel, but now sees these events being used by some to spread ancient hatreds which have inflicted so much suffering on the Jewish people for thousands of years.

No complaint or concern about international affairs justifies hate speech against any n, or any n community. 

We believe we speak for the vast majority of ns, of all faiths and of none, when we say we stand in solidarity with Jewish ns at this time. 

Likewise, we stand too with the n Palestinian community whose families are dying and sufferings in this terrible conflict. 

They too deserve our love and support.

 Our nation’s success depends on us not allowing conflict overseas to turn ns against each other.

We condemn the cruel and murderous attack on Israeli families by Hamas on October 7. After raining thousands of rockets down on Israel, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and kidnapped and murdered 1400 Israelis; young and old, women and men, children – not even babies were spared. It was the single largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust and its grotesque cruelty and violence was comparable to that of ISIS.

We call for the unconditional release of all hostages taken by Hamas.

The Hamas terrorists sought to horrify and intimidate the people of Israel, shaking that nation’s faith in its technology, its military, its government. 

But they also sought to provoke Israel into a reaction that would kill countless innocent civilians in Gaza. The Hamas terrorists have no more interest in the safety of Palestinians than they do of Israelis.

They want Israel to invade and bomb Gaza. They want to be able to point to thousands of Palestinian casualties from Israeli military action.

Their mission is to promote hatred – hatred of Israelis, hatred of Jews, hatred of Palestinians, hatred of Muslims.

If our hearts are filled with hatred, then we will be doing the terrorists’ work.

At home in we must treat each other with love and with respect. We must support those who are grieving and distressed. 

On the battlefield in Israel and Gaza we do not presume to give strategic advice to Israel. But the legitimate objective of defeating Hamas must be accompanied by support and protection for the civilian population of Gaza. Israel promises it will do all it can to avoid civilian casualties, we urge it to do so with all of its humanity and skill. 

We call for sustained humanitarian access to ensure essential supplies can reach innocent Palestinians. 

We are horrified by the thousands of deaths and injuries inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians, including many, many Palestinian children. 

We endorse, as we did in office, the n Government’s enduring support for a two-state solution as the basis for long-term lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. 

At this time, more than ever, we must in the words of the 34th Psalm ‘seek peace and pursue it’. And here at home that is done by defending our n values, condemning hate speech and intolerance and respecting the people of in all our diversity. 

The Hon. John Howard OM AC

The Hon. Dr Kevin Rudd AC

The Hon. Julia Gillard AC

The Hon. Tony Abbott AC

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC

The Hon. Scott Morisson MP 

error: Content is protected !!