http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23356687-2702,00.htmlPRO-PALESTINE Labor MP Julia Irwin has accused Israel of human rights violations and threatened to boycott a vote to celebrate 60 years of the Jewish state.
Ms Irwin, who clashed in the Labor caucus today with Kevin Rudd over the issue, has told The Australian Online she has yet to decide whether she will turn up to tomorrow’s vote in protest.
Earlier, she questioned the decision to celebrate the anniversary in light of Amnesty International’s warnings of human rights abuses and questioned what the motion would say about Palestine.
In response, Mr Rudd said the decision to mark the anniversary was not in conflict with Labor Party policy that supported peace negotiations based on two states for both for Jews and Palestinians.
Ms Irwin refused to comment on what she said in the ALP caucus but said she could not rule out boycotting the vote.
“I haven’t decided what my actions will be tomorrow,’’ she told The Australian Online.
Asked if Israel was engaging in human rights violations, Ms Irwin said she had no doubt.
“I have been to Palestine. I have seen with my own eyes.
“You walk through those streets. You walk in those refugee camps. You see those children. And yes, they are,’’ she said today.
The Australian Jewish News has previously described Ms Irwin as the most outspoken critic of Israel and the Jewish community in Parliament.
he once she read from an email in Parliament in 2002 that stated the Jewish lobby was “the most implacable, arrogant, cruel and powerful lobby in the country.”
Ms Irwin has previously made speeches in Parliament characterising Israel's policies as "ethnic cleansing", and Gaza as a "concentration camp".
After criticism from Jewish groups and by members of both the Liberal and Labor parties, Irwin then issued an apology for her "offensive" language.
Labor MPs confirmed today there were receiving letters of protests from Palestinian supporters in Australia over the vote.
“We’ve been getting a few emails from Palestinian supporters,’’ one Labor MP said today.
“(Ms Irwin) just wanted to know why we were doing it."