More than a dozen ministers and Labor backbenchers were absent from Parliament yesterday when Prime Minister Kevin Rudd moved an motion to congratulate Israel on its 60th birthday.

Although some Liberal MPs also snubbed the event, the absence of Labor MPs was notable in the chamber when Mr Rudd's motion was strongly supported by Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.

As Mr Rudd rose to speak, a woman was removed from the public gallery for interjecting, "What about the UN resolution?"

Several protesters rallied outside Parliament criticising Israeli incursions into Palestinian territory.

The Government defended its decision to debate the motion despite opposition from within its own ranks and from the unions.

Labor's Julia Irwin said she boycotted the Prime Minister's speech in protest against Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

"I find it hard to congratulate a country which carries out human rights abuses every day," she said.

"As we did 60 years ago, Australia must speak out against human rights abuses where ever they occur."

Mrs Irwin said she cried at the Holocaust museum but it was time to move on.

Mrs Irwin questioned Mr Rudd in Tuesday's caucus meeting on his reasons for the unprecedented motion. She was refused permission to table the last 10 years of reports from Amnesty International on the Middle East.

"I urged caucus members to read the reports, especially the 2007 report, on the human rights violations by Israel against the Palestinians," she said.

"There hasn't been any pressure put on myself or other members of the Labor caucus [to attend yesterday's debate] and I understand a few Opposition Members decided not to go down for the motion as well."

Mrs Irwin said she had become a strong supporter of Palestine after visiting refugee camps there. On her birthday last year, a family of 18 Palestinians was killed in their beds by mistake by the Israeli military.
In Parliament, Mr Rudd spoke of the prominent role Australia had played in the process which led to the creation of a modern Israel, citing the efforts of former Labor leaders Doc Evatt and Ben Chifley.
He reaffirmed the Labor Party's commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

"We firmly believe the establishment of an independent and economically viable Palestinian state must remain a key objective of the Israeli peace process," he said.
At a reception held by the Israeli embassy at Parliament House, Mr Rudd said Australia's credentials on Israel were "pretty bloody good".
He said he looked forward to visiting Israel as Prime Minister, following two earlier visits to the country.

ACTU secretary Jeff Lawrence distanced himself from union-sponsored ads opposing the parliamentary motion.

The union members were entitled to have their view on the issue, he said.

"[But] it's not something that the ACTU has," he told the National Press Club.

"The ACTU has policies about a range of issues but I think individual unions are entitled to express their views about those issues."
Last Wednesday, the ACTU condemned military attacks against Palestinian and Israeli civilians.

The ACTU's international humanitarian agency is running an emergency appeal for the 1.5 million people in Gaza.

Two unions the Maritime Union of Australia and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union joined a large group of individuals and organisations which sponsored nationwide advertisements urging Parliament to abandon the birthday motion.

"Australia and Australians should not give the Israeli people and its leaders the impression that Australia supports them in their dispossession of the Palestinian people," the advertisement said.

The "Not in our name, Prime Minister" advertisement referred to the trampling of Palestinians' rights.

"[We call] on Israel to end the occupation and engage in a genuine process of peace that will bring dignity and justice to all, Palestinians and Israelis," it said.

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