A cross-party delegation from Australia is expected to touch down in Israel next week for a historic wartime visit to the Jewish state.
The trip is expected to span several days and will be led by shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham and Labor MP Josh Burns.
The visit is likely to include meetings with senior Israeli officials and visits to regions directly affected by Hamas’ brutal incursion on October 7.
It is understood the Greens will not be taking part.
Mr Birmingham and Mr Burns have both spoken out against the about the uptick in ant-Semitism in Australia and urged the government to strengthen their stance against it.
Mr Birmingham on Tuesday addressed the new travel warning issued for Israelis travelling to Australia, labelling it as a “terrible stain” on the nation.
“The idea that Jewish people or Israeli citizens would somehow have to take extra precautions in visiting Australia because of the rise in anti-Semitism, because of the type of intimidatory tactics we have seen in various protests and other actions engaged in,” he said.
“This is something that must be tackled at the highest levels.”
Mr Burns’ electorate of Macnamara in Victoria includes the predominately Jewish suburb of Caufield, which was the site of an ugly clash between Israel and Palestine supporters near a synagogue on November 10.
The trip marks the first time a Labor MP has visited Israel since the war first began two months ago.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison was the first Australian politician to make the journey, touching down in Tel Aviv alongside Boris Johnson at the beginning of November.
The pair met with British-Israeli reservists and toured communities in southern Israel attacked by the terror group almost nine weeks ago.
The trip, aimed at showing solidarity with Israel, quickly attracted criticism from other former politicians.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull accused Mr Morrison of “showboating” with the visit and pushed back on calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to follow suit.
“Albanese has got to keep his eye on the ball which is being Prime Minister of Australia and advancing the interests of Australian people that have put him into office,” Mr Turnbull told ABC RN on November 7.
“That would be my advice to him.
“Leave the showboating to ScoMo and Boris I think.”
(SKY NEWS)
