Israel urges Labor to moderate foreign policy criticism
Israel is calling on Labor to tone down criticism of the country with a draft policy platform condemning settler violence in the West Bank and a controversial new death penalty law.
As hundreds of delegates prepare to arrive in Adelaide for Labour’s three-day national conference, which starts on Thursday, the Israeli embassy says policy statements should not target “just one side”.
Although the draft platform does not accuse Israel of genocide, it presses for stronger steps to be taken regarding the rights of Palestinians.
“The Labor Party opposes the annexation of Palestinian lands and wants Israel to end illegal settlement activities and occupation to ensure the security of Palestine, Israel and the region,” the document said. The statement is included.
“Labour is calling on the government to crack down on any support for illegal settlement activity or extreme settler violence and take further action and enforcement as necessary.”
It also confirms Australia’s stance against the death penalty, stating that Labor “condemns” “all discriminatory laws targeting Palestinians”.
Labour’s draft platform also “unreservedly condemns terrorism and violent extremism, including by Hamas and other extremists”.
Settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank “receives disproportionate attention” and does not reflect the identity or values of the state, the Israeli embassy said in a statement on Monday.
“The Embassy respectfully notes that various elements of the draft national platform risk placing responsibility for the conflict on a single party due to insufficient attention to the decisions, behavior and ongoing obligations of the Palestinian leadership and terrorist organizations such as Hamas,” the embassy said. he said.
Human rights groups were alarmed when Israel passed legislation establishing special military courts with the power to impose the death penalty on those responsible for Hamas attacks that killed nearly 1,200 people on October 7, 2023.
Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks has killed more than 72,000 people in Gaza, according to local health officials.
The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network accused the Israeli embassy of interfering in Australia’s domestic political processes.
The group called on Labor to strengthen its platform by recognizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide (a charge that Israel vehemently denies) and ending defense exports and military cooperation that risk contributing to war crimes.
“There is an important distinction between diplomatic relations with the Australian government and a foreign state publicly seeking to influence the internal policy-making processes of an Australian political party,” network president Nasser Mashni said.
“This is an extraordinary step and should concern every Australian, regardless of politics.” The debate over the draft platform came after the federal government announced $25 million in aid to Gaza. $15 million of the funding goes to the UN Horizon Fund, which helps Palestinians rebuild in the Gaza Strip, and $10 million to the World Bank’s Palestine Reconstruction and Development Fund.
Asked whether it was appropriate for Israeli representatives to comment on Labour’s draft platform, cabinet minister Amanda Rishworth said it was a matter for the embassy.
“The national conference process is a very dynamic and exciting conference and our focus will really be on these important issues and building a position and a platform that will put Labor in a very good position,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Ms Rishworth said Labor had been consistent in its calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
“We unequivocally condemn Hamas, including the atrocities of October 7 and its ongoing acts of terrorism. We could not have been clearer,” he said.
“We have also made it very clear that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live lives free of terrorism and violence.”
