Australian foreign minister says ‘no double standards’ in not imposing sanctions on Israel
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has defended her decision not to impose sanctions on Israel for its actions in Gaza or on extremist Israeli settlers, telling the Senate, ‘As is longstanding practice, we do not speculate on sanctions.’ Wong also acknowledged lawmakers’ concerns.
The minister was responding to a question by Senator Jordan Steele-John, who asked, ‘Why hasn’t the Australian government placed sanctions on individuals responsible for the State of Israel’s war crimes?’ In the 4 July session, he noted that multiple countries including the United States, United Kingdom, France and Canada have imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlers in the West Bank. ‘Why is the Australian government so out of step with our allies in our decision not to do the same?’ he asked Wong, a fellow senator.
‘I’ve said publicly that any extremist settler will not be granted a visa to come to Australia,’ Wong replied. ‘This government has made clear that settlements are contrary to international law,’ she said.
Wong referred to media reports ‘about Israel’s decision in recent months to approve new settlement construction and to seize territory in the West Bank,’ commenting, ‘We object to these decisions and we call for these decisions to be reversed. Not only are settlements illegal under international law; they are a significant obstacle to peace and a two-state solution.’
Steele-John noted that when it comes to autonomous sanctions on Israel and its officials, ‘you have said that it is a matter for relevant international tribunals. But, in other conflicts, you haven’t in fact waited for international rulings before imposing autonomous sanctions. How do you justify this clear double standard?’
‘There is no double standard. There’s a separate issue about respect for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court,’ Wong continued, adding: ‘You don’t pick and choose on international law. You can’t argue that the law of the sea in the South China Sea should be respected but at the same time oppose the application of international law through the tribunals, as difficult as it may be, as difficult and as confronting as it may be. That will remain the principled position that the Albanese Labor government takes.’
