Israel criticises Labor's draft Palestine policy ahead of party conference

The Israeli embassy in Australia has intervened in domestic politics by publicly criticizing the draft platform of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. The statement was released on Monday, just days before the ALP’s national conference in Adelaide, where the platform will be debated. The embassy accused the draft of unfairly placing responsibility for the ongoing conflict on Israel while failing to adequately address the role of Palestinian leadership and organizations like Hamas. This marks a rare and direct involvement of an overseas embassy in shaping the internal policy direction of an Australian political party. The draft platform, significantly expanded from the previous version, outlines Labor’s position on the Israel-Gaza situation. It reaffirms support for a two-state solution as the only viable path toward peace, emphasizing mutual respect for the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. The document also underscores the Albanese government’s recognition of the State of Palestine, a decision that has sparked controversy with Israel. In addition, the platform explicitly condemns terrorism and violent extremism, including actions attributed to Hamas. It calls for an end to Israeli settlement activities in occupied territories, urging the government to prevent support for such activities and to impose sanctions where necessary. A key element of the draft is its acknowledgment of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion on the legal implications of Israel’s policies in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. The platform asserts that Israel, as an occupying power, has international humanitarian law obligations, particularly concerning the provision of food and medical supplies to Palestinian civilians. Furthermore, it condemns recent Israeli legislative measures that could lead to the imposition of the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis, aligning with Australia’s longstanding opposition to capital punishment. The Israeli embassy’s response highlights its disagreement with several points in the draft. It argues that Israeli settlements are not violations of international law, asserting that final-border arrangements are part of the broader peace process to be negotiated directly between the parties. The embassy characterizes settler violence as a marginal issue, contrasting it with frequent attacks by Palestinian militant groups, which it claims are not sufficiently condemned by the Palestinian Authority. It also challenges Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state, stating that such moves risk alienating both sides rather than bringing them closer together. The embassy’s statement emphasizes its belief that lasting peace requires balanced efforts from both sides, rejecting unilateral declarations or external pressures targeting only one party. It suggests that true progress depends on mutual concessions and direct negotiations, rather than international interventions that favor one side over the other. The statement also critiques the involvement of international courts like the International Criminal Court (ICC), claiming they are politically biased and disproportionately focused on Israel. Australian advocacy groups, including the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN), have expressed disappointment with the draft’s limited scope. They argue that the platform lacks concrete commitments to actions such as halting defense exports to Israel or addressing illegal settlements. APAN’s executive officer, Katie Shammas, urged the ALP to take a firmer stand during the conference, advocating for measures that would hold Australia accountable for its international obligations and reduce its complicity in potential human rights violations. The federal government has maintained that it has not exported arms or ammunition to Israel for over five years, though this claim has not been universally accepted by critics.