Labor MP under pressure over Israel views

There are calls for Labor MP Josh Wilson to resign after he was recorded criticising Israel over Palestine on a video at a meeting last December.

Labor MP Josh Wilson at a federal parliamentary inquiry.

Labor MP Josh Wilson is under pressure over his comments on Israel. (AAP)

West Australian Labor MP Josh Wilson has angered Jewish groups with his comments on Israel's treatment of Palestine, just days after the ALP lost a candidate to a similar controversy.

The West Australian has obtained video of Mr Wilson addressing the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network on the sidelines of the Labor conference last December.

Senator Sue Lines was also at the meeting.

"They are going to turn Palestine into Swiss cheese and that is what is happening," Mr Wilson is seen as saying.

Executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council Colin Rubenstein told the West Mr Wilson's comments were "both insulting and insidious and should have no role in our national debate".

Israeli ambassador Mark Sofe was also critical.

"The obsession with demonising Israel, which thankfully is the domain of the few, does not at all help the Palestinians and serves only to hamper possible rapprochement in the Middle East".

Mr Wilson holds the seat of Fremantle with a margin on 7.6 per cent.

On the weekend, Melissa Parke stood down as the Labor candidate for the Perth seat of Curtin for her comments on Palestine.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said Mr Wilson should follow her lead.

"If Melissa Parke had to resign as the Labor candidate for Curtin because of her extreme anti-Israel views, why did Josh Wilson and Sue Lines not have to offer up their resignations at the same time," Senator Cormann said


Share
Published 15 April 2019 5:46am
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world