Australia Israel Tension Over Settlements

2SER's Razors Edge

Relations between Australia and Israel remain tense after the Foreign Minister Bob Carr called in Israel’s ambassador on Tuesday, to convey strong concern over plans to expand settlements on Palestinian land. Carr told the ambassador that building new settlements threatens the viability of a two-state solution. Israel announced the plan just a day after the historic vote to give Palestinians observer status at the UN. In that vote, Australia abstained, which was viewed as a shift away from always supporting Israel on the international stage. So why is the Gillard government taking a different approach to Israel and will it have any lasting impact? 2SER’s Mark Robinson spoke with journalist and author Antony Loewenstein.