The Embassy of Israel says Labor is placing too much blame on Israel over its conflict with Palestinian Photo: Yuliia Bukovska.
The Israeli embassy in Canberra has taken the unusual step of criticising a domestic policy platform, issuing a four-page media statement ahead of this week’s Labor Party National Conference.
The statement addresses Labor’s draft national position on Israel and Palestine, to be put to conference delegates, and which contains stronger language than has previously been used against Israel.
The draft platform opposes “settler violence” and Israel’s new death penalty laws, and supports the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While the draft platform condemns Hamas, it doesn’t call for the Palestinian terrorist group’s disarmament.
Foreign embassies rarely engage publicly in the politics of their host nations, but Labor’s national conferences are only held every three years, and its platform on the Middle East could be significantly beefed up from what was adopted in 2023.
With that in mind, the Israeli embassy has moved to strongly criticise the draft platform ahead of the imminent conference.
It says the platform places too much responsibility on Israel over its conflict with Palestine.
“The Embassy of Israel notes these policy motions are still in draft form, and will continue to engage constructively with the Australian Labor Party through the usual diplomatic channels,” it states.
“However, the embassy respectfully submits that several elements of the draft national platform risk placing responsibility for the conflict on one party while giving insufficient attention to the decisions, conduct and continuing obligations of the Palestinian leadership and terrorist organisations such as Hamas.”
The statement says “settler violence” receives “disproportionate attention” and does not reflect the “identity or values” of the State of Israel.
“The government of Israel and the settler movement itself condemns it, and security forces work to apprehend these forms of illegal behaviour,” it states.
“It should be recognised that there is a significant amount of disinformation surrounding ‘settler violence’.
“The UN and others rely on false information in their description of it … Those seeking peace would be better served to focus their scrutiny on the terrorism experienced by both Jewish and Arab Israelis at the hands of terrorist groups such as Hamas.”
The lengthy statement concludes by urging all political parties to frame their policies “not around assigning blame”, but around promoting the “conditions that history demonstrates” are essential for lasting peace.
Those conditions include:
- the recognition of Israel’s historic connection to the land and right to exist
- the cessation of terrorism by all Palestinian organisations
- the dismantling and disarmament of Hamas and other terrorist groups
- an end to incitement and the glorification of terrorism, and
- direct negotiations leading to a secure and enduring peace.
“Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to make difficult compromises when genuine peace is possible,” the embassy said.
“It remains committed to a future in which Israelis and Palestinians live alongside one another in peace and security.
“That future, however, cannot be built through unilateral political declarations or international pressure directed at only one side.”
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) says that despite what the Israeli embassy might say, Labor’s platform is “totally insufficient” and “does not acknowledge the Palestinian genocide”.
APAN executive officer Katie Shammas said Labor’s conference will be a defining moment for the party.
“Labor cannot claim to champion human rights and international law while continuing policies that contribute to Israel’s violations,” she said in a recent statement.
“This conference is the moment Labor can choose to draw a clear red line on Australian complicity.
“That means ending defence exports that risk contributing to atrocities, confronting the illegal settlement enterprise, and ensuring Australia meets its obligations under international law.
“History will remember what Labor chose to do while Palestinians were being killed, starved and driven from their homes.”
APAN is calling on delegates to strengthen the national platform by committing to:
- ending Australian defence exports and military cooperation that risk contributing to war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide
- ensuring full transparency and accountability across Australia’s defence trade
- taking concrete action against Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise, including ending Australian trade and investment that sustains it
- divesting Future Fund investments linked to Israel’s occupation and illegal settlements, and
- strengthening Australia’s commitment to accountability under international law for war crimes and other serious violations.
Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth, speaking to ABC Radio on Tuesday (20 July), said the government was not concerned about the Israeli embassy’s public intervention.
She also noted that the platform is yet to be debated.
“That’s entirely a matter for the Israeli embassy about what they will and won’t comment on,” the minister said.
“I can tell you that the national conference process is a very dynamic and exciting conference and our focus will be really on those key issues and putting a position and a platform that puts the Labor Party in a very good position.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
