Danby adds his voice
Federal Labor MP Michael Danby has added his voice to his Leaders following the pro BDS speech by Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke in parliament this week.
Michael Danby, the Labor member for Melbourne Ports and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition said ‘the Labor Party opposes the BDS campaign. The Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Bill Shorten, has repeatedly reaffirmed this position.
‘In a speech to the Zionist Federation of Australia on 30 March he stated “I also want to register my profound opposition to those promoting an anti-Israel boycott. I reject it. It has no place in our universities and it has no place in the commercial marketplace. I stand for engagement with Israel at every level”. Peace in the Middle East will only be achieved by the parties negotiating a mutually equitable outcome. Labor does not regard the BDS campaign as contributing to this outcome.
Michael Danby, the federal member for Melbourne Ports said ‘Melissa Parke is a maverick. Her views represent no one except her own. Anthony Albanese, the leader of the ALP’s left, led a campaign of opposition to the BDS together with his wife Carmel when they faced down the Green political party at the recent NSW State election. Danby said ‘the BDS movement is not an opposition to settlements, it’s an opposition to Israel’s existence.’
http://www.jwire.com.au/danby-adds-voice/