Family First today called on the Albanese Government to reverse its decision to deny a visa to pro-Israel activist and influencer Hillel Fuld.
National Director Lyle Shelton said there was nothing worthy of disqualification in published reasons for his visa cancellation.
“Given the rise of anti-Semitism and unjust anti-Israel sentiment, Australia needs more debate and discussion about the war in Gaza, not less.
“Hillel Fuld’s comments questioning terrorist propaganda about alleged massacres by the Israeli Defence Force and his comparisons of Gazans’ support for Hamas with German’s support for Nazism at the time are entirely reasonable,” Mr Shelton said.
Mr Fuld was also reported to have said that 10 to 15 per cent of the world’s Muslims were “radicalised” and has labelled “radical Islam” a “global plague.”
Mr Shelton said many Australians were rightly worried about radical Islam, particularly given the rise of hate preachers quoting Koranic texts in Australian mosques calling for the killing of Jews.
“The Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s decision to cancel Mr Fuld’s visa is un-Australian because this is a nation that believes in freedom of speech.
“Australia has a large Muslim population and its leaders have failed to criticise the Hamas atrocities but have been visceral in their public attacks on Israel since the biggest slaughter, rape and kidnapping of Jews since the Holocaust.
“Muslim leaders should be willing to hear and engage with someone like Mr Fuld, rather than seek to have him cancelled.
“Freedom and debate is the Australian way, not cancel culture.”
Mr Shelton said the intervention of the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, was ominous.
“Our ally the US is rightly questioning countries like Australia and countries in Europe about their commitment to Western values such as freedom of speech.
“Why should we expect the US to honour its defence alliance with us if we no longer stand for Western values? What is there to fight for if Australia no longer believes in the freedoms its ANZACs fought for?”
One of the reasons cited in news reports for the visa cancellation was that Mr Fuld’s visit may pose a risk to “the health, safety or good order” of the Australian community, particularly among Muslim Australians.
“If Muslim Australians can’t handle a free and open discussion about Hamas atrocities then we have a very serious problem with social cohesion.
“Australia’s commitment to Western freedoms must not be sacrificed because large number of Muslim immigrants do not hold Western values.”
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