Domestic concerns temper Aust Mideast response

Updated January 6, 2009 20:59:17

The situation in Gaza has fuelled a vigorous debate in Australia. And the ruling Labor government - as with previous Australian governments - is finding itself carefully balancing its response to avoid igniting deep passions. Where it has sought to define its stance is by boosting aid to the Palestinians and observers say that's because the Rudd government is pushing for a UN Security Council seat.

Presenter: Linda Mottram, Canberra correspondent
Speaker: Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister; Eli Yerushalmi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel in Canberra; Antony Lowenstein, spokesman for Jewish opponents of Israel's Gaza attack; Wassim Durehi, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Australia; Dr Matthew Gray, senior lecturer, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, ANU Canberra