ALP status quo on Israel-Palestine
The Labor Party Conference held in Brisbane has maintained the recent changes in its policy regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict without any further additions.
Labor is facing calls for the recognition of Palestine to become a priority for the government, with a commitment to statehood already in the party’s policy platform.
No timeline has been attached to implement the policy, with some pro-Palestinian Labor delegates pushing to have it expedited.
But pro-Israel elements of the party threatened to try and strip the policy from the platform if the other side attempted to alter it at the national conference in Brisbane.
No amendments were moved and the same wording remains in the policy platform with no timeline attached.
Labor MP Susan Templeman spoke in favour of recognition at Labor’s national conference on Friday, saying the actions of Israel’s extreme right-wing government were “deeply concerning”.
“The extreme right-wing policies of the Netanyahu government that speed up the expansion of settlements are a serious impediment to the two-state solution that we are all committed to,” she told Labor’s national conference on Friday.
She said she supported “the call our platform makes for the recognition of Palestine as an issue of priority” as Palestinians suffered inequality at the hands of Israeli settlements.
Trade unionist Michael Easson said good people could disagree on the issue and called for a nuanced approach to an age-old conflict.
He told the conference there could be “no justice without truth”.
“The central and tragic truth of the Israel-Palestine conflict is that two people – the Jewish people and the Palestinian – have deep, centuries-long, historical ties to a territory no larger than half of Tasmania,” he said.
“Viewing the conflict from a one-eyed perspective will not achieve peace. Any lasting solution cannot be at the expense of Palestinians or Israelis.”
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry welcomed the decision to not change the policy platform or add “further hostile policy pronouncements”.
This marks a significant departure from the past, as it is the first National Conference since 2015 that did not pursue unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
It said Palestine did not exist as a state and any recognition would impact peace negotiations.
In a statement, the ECAJ noted: “The truth that this government must accept is that recognition of a state that does not exist is not the expression of solidarity or of a desire for peace. It is a dangerous falsehood which rewards the Palestinians for their refusal to negotiate an end to the conflict, recognise a Jewish state or renounce violence and terrorism. Recognition of a Palestinian state can only occur when it actually exists and that will only happen through direct negotiations between the parties.
Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the delegates, parliamentarians, and senators who have unwaveringly upheld their commitment to truth, the enduring Israel-Australia alliance, and the cherished tenets of democracy. Despite significant pressures exerted by anti-Israel advocates, these stalwart individuals have resisted yielding to their demands.
We maintain our opposition to recent Government announcements on the conflict, particularly the reversal of Australia’s recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the adoption of incorrect language regarding the designation of the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem.
We will never waver in our advocacy for the inalienable rights of the Jewish people and in standing up to those who wish to do the State of Israel harm.”
Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler said, “We are pleased the ALP’s national conference has resulted in no further change to Labor’s position on recognition of Palestine. While we remain concerned about the Labor party resolution, we appreciate the efforts by the Labor leadership team to keep the resolution language the same as last conference.”
Mr Leibler continued, “Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said on numerous occasions that a decision as to whether Australia should recognise Palestine is up to government, and not a party conference. We also note Senator Wong’s repeated comments that the government should not take unilateral positions on final status issues, and we expect the government to remain consistent in this regard.”
Jeremy Leibler added: “We believe that the Labor leadership realises that premature recognition of a non-existent Palestinian state would damage Australia’s foreign policy credibility and the already strained Israeli-Palestinian peace process.”
AIJAC Executive Director Dr. Colin Rubenstein said, “The ALP National Conference decision to make no changes to the existing party platform on Israeli-Palestinian issues, despite calls from elements in the party to demand immediate recognition of the currently non-existent ‘state of Palestine’, was positive, given the circumstances.”
He added: “As Foreign Minister Penny Wong has repeatedly stressed, and as the legally binding Oslo Accords stipulate, final status issues, including borders, need to be settled by negotiation between the two parties. We hope and expect that the ALP Government will continue to avoid further policy changes which contradict or disrupt this vital stance, which is an essential part of its declared policy of maintaining Australia’s tradition of seeking to encourage a negotiated two-state peace.”
AAP/J-wire
