Key facts
- The Israeli embassy in Canberra has publicly criticised a draft policy platform by Australia's Labor party regarding the Gaza conflict.
- The embassy claims the draft policy places responsibility for the conflict disproportionately on Israel and inadequately addresses Hamas.
- The draft policy, due for debate at the Labor national conference, includes opposition to annexation of Palestinian territory and calls to end settler violence and occupation.
- Israel's embassy described settler violence as a "marginal phenomenon" and suggested focusing scrutiny on terrorism by groups like Hamas.
- A specific clause stating Hamas must disarm and have no role in a future Palestinian state was removed from the final draft policy.
- Minister for multicultural affairs Anne Aly indicated the embassy's intervention was their prerogative.
The Israeli embassy in Canberra has publicly criticised a draft policy platform by Australia's Labor party concerning the Gaza conflict, marking a rare foreign intervention into domestic political processes. The embassy issued a four-page statement challenging the proposed positions on Palestine, Hamas, and settler violence in the West Bank, which are slated for debate at the upcoming Labor national conference.
The embassy stated that several elements of the draft platform risk placing responsibility for the conflict on one party while giving insufficient attention to the decisions and conduct of the Palestinian leadership and organisations like Hamas. It described settler violence as a "reprehensible but marginal phenomenon" that was given "disproportionate attention" in the draft, suggesting focus should instead be on terrorism experienced by Israelis at the hands of groups such as Hamas.
The draft platform for 2026 differs significantly from the 2023 iteration, reflecting shifts in policy following the October 7th Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. While the 2023 document focused on recognition of a Palestinian state, the new draft includes motions opposing the annexation of Palestinian territory and calling for an end to settler violence and the occupation.
Notably, a line from an earlier draft stating "Hamas must disarm and can have no role in the State of Palestine" was dropped from the final version to be debated, though the final draft does single out Hamas as a perpetrator of terrorism. The embassy argued that political parties should frame policies around conditions essential for lasting peace rather than assigning blame. Minister for multicultural affairs Anne Aly, however, appeared unfazed by the intervention, stating the embassy would "do what they feel is right."