Published: 4 August 2023
Last updated: 19 March 2024
The ALP national conference will vote on recognising Palestine this month. Concerns about the Netanyahu government are adding weight to the campaign.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has raised concerns over “alarming” trends in Israel with the Netanyahu government.
During a meeting with Labor MPs on Tuesday, Wong was asked whether Israel's government - through its judicial overhaul and policy on settlements - is leading Israel "down a less democratic path".
Wong warned of "alarming trends" in Israeli democracy, saying she had raised Australia's concerns with its government. She also described the acceleration of Israeli settlements as "an obstacle to peace" in the region.
Australia formally raised “deep concerns” about settlement growth and loss of life in the West Bank, in a joint statement with the UK and Canada released at the beginning of July.
“We are gravely concerned by the government of Israel’s approval on June 26 of over 5700 new settlement units in the West Bank. We are also concerned by the changes to the settlement approval process instituted by the government of Israel on June 18, which facilitate swifter approval of construction in settlements.
“The continued expansion of settlements is an obstacle to peace and negatively impacts efforts to achieve a negotiated two-state solution. We call on the government of Israel to reverse these decisions.
“We are also deeply troubled by the continued violence and loss of life in Israel and in the West Bank. We unequivocally condemn all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians, including the terrorist attack on June 20 in Eli targeting Israeli civilians. We also condemn the reprehensible and ongoing settler violence targeting Palestinians,” the statement said.
The ALP is scheduled to vote on Israel-Palestine policy at its national conference on August 17-19. The draft platform includes a motion to recognise Palestine as a state, alongside Israel, which is expected to pass.
