Ley Pens Letter To Republicans Stating Her Party’s Benchmark For Dead Palestinians Hasn’t Been Met Yet

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has made it her lugubrious duty to write directly to members of the United States Congress to reassure them that the Liberals have kowtowed to the centuries-old diplomatic pastime of counting Arab casualties.

The correspondence was dispatched overnight, just hours before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the United Nations to announce Australia’s formal recognition of Palestine, a decision jointly made with Canada and the United Kingdom.

In the letter, obtained by The Advocate, Ms Ley told Republicans that “Australia’s opposition remains steadfast in its commitment to only recognise Palestinian statehood once the proper amount of casualties has been tallied.” She did not specify what that benchmark might be, but suggested it was “a moving target best determined in consultation with Tel Aviv and Texas.”

The exchange comes as 25 congressional Republicans, led by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, threatened “punitive measures” like against Australia like “keeping the nuclear submarines we purchased” for daring to fall into line with more than 150 other countries who already recognise Palestine.

Asked why she bypassed both the Department of Foreign Affairs and the prime minister, Ms Ley said she was “bringing ballast” to the alliance, adding that the Albanese government had let the relationship with Washington “drift into dangerous waters, like recognising the humanity of Palestinians.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong accused the opposition leader of going rogue, saying Australia was strongest when it “spoke with one voice, rather than outsourcing foreign policy to the Freedom Caucus.”

Ms Ley will travel to the US later in the year to court congressional allies and according to sources, will attempt to lock in a photo-op with various Washington landmarks.

More to come.