Israel urges Labor to moderate foreign policy criticism

Israel is urging Labor to soften criticism of the country in a draft policy platform that condemns settler violence in the West Bank and a controversial new death penalty law.

As hundreds of delegates prepare to arrive in Adelaide for the Labor Party’s three-day national conference starting Thursday, the Israeli embassy said policy declarations should not target “only one side”.

While the draft platform does not accuse Israel of genocide, it pushes for stronger action on Palestinian rights.

“Labor opposes the annexation of Palestinian territory and wants Israel to bring its illegal settlement activity and the occupation to an end, to see security for Palestine, for Israel and for the region,” the document reads.

“Labor urges the government to prevent any support being given to illegal settlement activity or extremist settler violence, and to implement further action and sanctions as necessary.”

It also reaffirms Australia’s stand against capital punishment and states Labor “condemns” all “discriminatory laws which target Palestinians”.

Labor’s draft platform also “unreservedly condemns terrorism and violent extremism, including as perpetrated by Hamas and other extremists”.

The Israeli embassy said in a statement on Monday that settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank received “disproportionate attention” and did not reflect the state’s identity or values.

“The embassy respectfully submits that several elements of the draft national platform risk placing responsibility for the conflict on one party while giving insufficient attention to the decisions, conduct and continuing obligations of the Palestinian leadership and terrorist organisations such as Hamas,” the embassy said.

Human rights groups sounded the alarm when Israel passed a law to create special military tribunals with powers to impose the death penalty for those responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that killed about 1200 people.

Israel’s military response to the Hamas attacks has killed more than 72,000 people in Gaza, according to local health authorities.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network has accused the Israeli embassy of intervening in Australia’s domestic political processes.

The group called on Labor to strengthen its platform by recognising Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide – a charge Israel strenuously denies – and ending defence exports and military cooperation that risk contributing to war crimes.

“There is an important distinction between diplomatic engagement with the Australian government and a foreign state publicly attempting to influence the internal policy-making processes of an Australian political party,” network president Nasser Mashni said.

“That is an extraordinary step and one that should concern every Australian regardless of their politics.”

The debate over the draft platform comes as the federal government announced $25 million of support for aid in Gaza.

The funding includes $15 million for the UN Horizon Fund, which assists the reconstruction for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, as well as $10 million to the World Bank’s Palestinian Fund for Reconstruction and Development.

Asked if it was appropriate for Israeli representatives to comment on Labor’s draft platform, cabinet minister Amanda Rishworth said that was a matter for the embassy.

“That national conference process is a very dynamic and exciting conference, and our focus will be really on those key issues and putting a position and a platform that puts the Labor Party in a very good position,” she told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

Labor had been consistent in calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East, Ms Rishworth said.

“We have unequivocally condemned Hamas, including for the atrocities of the seventh of October and its ongoing acts of terror. We couldn’t have been more clearer,” she said.

“We’ve also very clearly said that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live their lives free from terror and violence.”