Dan Andrews joins pro-Israel group, denounces ‘antisemitism and terrorism’
By Paul Sakkal
Daniel Andrews has thrown his weight behind Israel and urged Australians to rally against antisemitism and terrorism as debate rages about activists vandalising MPs’ offices.
The former Victorian premier has been named as an inaugural patron of Labor Friends of Israel, which was created earlier this year to emphasise support for the state of Israel within the labour movement. Former Labor senator Nova Peris will join him in the role.
Daniel Andrews and Nova Peris becoming patrons of a new pro Israel groupCredit:
Publicly expressing support for Israel has become politically tricky for Labor MPs as the Netanyahu government wages a military campaign in Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.
Andrews said it was crucial Australians spoke out to support the local Jewish community but did not directly mention the war.
“I have always supported Israel and the Jewish community. It’s important now more than ever to stand against antisemitism and terrorism, I am proud to work with Nova Peris, an outstanding Australian,” he said in a written statement.
“I am appalled by the rise of antisemitism in Australia and want to ensure the Labor Party stays true to its values of respect and equality for all Australians.”
Andrews’ comments will serve as a boost to figures within Labor trying to maintain the party’s support for Israel in the face of growing local and international condemnation of the war. The conflict began after Hamas fighters killed an estimated 1200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages, according to the Israel Defence Forces. Gazan health authorities report more than 37,000 people have died during the subsequent invasion of the strip.
Labor Friends of Israel was formed by former Labor minister Mike Kelly, former NSW treasurer Eric Roozendaal, and academic and author Nick Dyrenfurth of the John Curtin Research Centre.
“The Labor Friends of Israel is delighted to announce that Mr Andrews and Ms Peris have agreed to serve as inaugural patrons. We count them both as among the strongest supporters of the Jewish community and Israel in the Australian Labor Party,” the group’s conveners said.
Andrews’ new role will feed into a bitter row that has emerged within the left wing of Australian politics since the outbreak of the war. Labor has grown increasingly frustrated with the Greens suggesting the Albanese government has supported Israel militarily as the crossbench party seeks to gain support from Muslim and left-leaning voters.
The prime minister, the Coalition and Greens leader Adam Bandt condemned vandals who set fires and smashed windows at the office of Jewish Labor MP Josh Burns this week. Burns said he was scared for the safety of his staff as well as colleagues whose offices had also been vandalised.
Andrews, Victoria’s longest-serving Labor premier, has not been scared to take firm stances on foreign affairs. His call to sign up Victoria to China’s Belt and Road agreement was overturned by the Morrison government over concerns about the program’s use to further Chinese influence across the globe.
He was the only current or former state premier invited to this week’s Canberra lunch to toast the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Andrews’ former adviser on Chinese affairs, Marty Mei, teamed up with Andrews to form two businesses earlier this year.
Andrews, who retired late last year after almost nine years as premier, was recognised as a Companion of the Order of Australia this month for “eminent service to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”.
His supporters praised the announcement while his critics, including former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett, argued Victoria’s long lockdowns and nation-topping pandemic death toll should have kept him off the honours list.
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