Israel criticises Labor’s draft Palestine policy in rare foreign intervention ahead of party conference | Labor party
Israel intervened in Labour’s internal processes, publicly criticizing the draft policy, which it said risked blaming Israel for the Gaza conflict while showing “insufficient attention” to the role of Hamas.
The Israeli embassy in Canberra on Monday issued a four-page statement opposing proposed positions on Palestine, Hamas and settler violence in the West Bank, which will be debated at Labor’s national conference this week.
“The Israeli Embassy notes that these policy proposals are still in draft form and will continue to engage constructively with the Australian Labor Party through normal diplomatic channels,” the statement said.
“However, the embassy respectfully notes that many elements of the draft platform risk placing responsibility for the conflict on a single party by not paying sufficient attention to the decisions, behavior and ongoing obligations of the Palestinian leadership and terrorist organizations such as Hamas.”
It is unusual for a foreign state to become involved in a domestic political issue such as a party conference; This further reveals tensions between Labor and the Israeli government.
The Labor Party platform is debated at a national conference held every three years to determine the party’s position on a wide range of issues, including Israel and Palestine.
The language of the 2026 draft platform on Israel and Palestine, 2023 iterationIt reflects changes in government policy following Hamas’ October 7 attack and Israel’s war in Gaza.
The 2023 document contained only three lines on Israel and Palestine, all of which were about recognition of the Palestinian state; This was a policy the government officially adopted last August.
The draft platform to be debated in Adelaide this week goes much further; It includes motions expressing Labor’s opposition to the annexation of Palestinian land and calling for an end to settler violence and occupation.
The Albanian government has been consistent in condemning settler violence in the West Bank. last month Joining with other western countries to impose new sanctions on perpetrators.
In its press release, the Israeli embassy said there had been “disproportionate attention” given to settler violence, which it described as a “reprehensible but marginal incident”.
“Those seeking peace would do better to focus their investigations on the terrorism suffered by Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, at the hands of terrorist groups such as Hamas,” the report said.
The embassy also appears to have picked up on language changes between the first draft of the 2026 platform and the draft that will be discussed this week.
For example, one of the lines from the first iteration, “Hamas must disarm and have no role in the State of Palestine,” was removed from the final draft.
But the final draft platform singles out Hamas as a perpetrator of terrorism and violent extremism.
The embassy said all political parties should shape their policies “not around blame, but around the conditions under which history shows are necessary for lasting peace.”
“[Israel] “We remain committed to a future in which Israelis and Palestinians will live side by side in peace and security,” he said. “But this future cannot be built through unilateral political statements or international pressure on one side alone.”
Anne Aly, minister for multiculturalism, appeared unimpressed when asked about the embassy’s intervention.
“You know, they’re going to do what they think is right,” he told the ABC Afternoon Briefing.
The language on the platform suggests Labor’s pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli contingents are likely to pressure changes to the auditorium.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong declined to comment.
