Danby cynical over Abbott embassy call

MELBOURNE Ports MP Michael Danby has dismissed Tony Abbott’s call for the Australian government to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem as a likely political stunt.

Speaking on ABC Radio’s AM program last week, Danby took a “cynical” view of the former Liberal prime minister’s proposal, outlined in The Spectator magazine on December 30, for Canberra to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem.

In the article, Abbott stated an embassy move by Australia, in line with any move by the US to relocate its embassy as proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, would “demonstrate its unwavering support for Israel, as the Middle East’s only liberal, pluralistic democracy”.

But Danby, saying he was “cynical about Abbott’s motives”, pointed out the ex-PM had not made a similar proposal while he was prime minister from 2013 to 2015.

Danby said he “wished Mr Abbott would have said this when he was PM”.

“I’m not a psychotherapist, so I can’t look inside his mind,” Danby mused. “It may be that since he’s not been prime minister, that he’s had more time to look into these kind of things.

“Many people would have the feeling that it’s sort of an attempt to have a shot at his rival, the Prime Minister [Malcolm Turnbull].”

And stating he is “not against foreign aid” to Palestinians, Danby also slammed Abbott’s call for Australia to end its aid to the Palestinian Authority while it continues to practice terrorism.

But the Melbourne Ports MP called for stricter vetting of Australian aid, after allegations last year that aid money was being siphoned off to bankroll the military wing of Hamas, saying his views align with acting ALP leader Chris Bowen.

“I’m not against foreign aid,” said Danby, “the Labor Party is a very strong supporter of foreign aid, including foreign aid to the Palestinians, but for the purposes [for] which it’s entitled.”

After Abbott’s comments, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed Australia has no plans to shift its embassy.

She said aid money to the Palestinians “is under review” after the aid program for World Vision in the Palestinian Territories was suspended last year.

A former chief of World Vision’s Gaza operations, Mohammad El Halabi, is due to face court in Israel over allegations he secretly transferred aid money to Hamas.

AJN STAFF