As far as I am aware, the protest outside my office while I was in Parliament was peaceful and I respect the different and very strong views about the Israeli President’s visit. People are entitled to express their views in a peaceful way and to be treated with respect.

As Israeli Head of State, the President is here to honour of the victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack and to provide support for Jewish Australians and the Australian Jewish community at this time.

The President has not been invited here to discuss the current situation in the Middle East. But if you believe in a two-state solution, as I do and the Australian Government does, retaining diplomatic relations with all states is the only pathway forward.

Israel and its leaders will be judged by the International Court of Justice on its compliance with the Genocide Convention. Israel must also accept its responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

I have a very long-standing publicly known commitment to supporting a Palestinian State, and I’ll continue that work in spite of the horrors of war and the challenges the Gazan and West Bank communities face.

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