Israel’s embassy in Australia has sharply criticised Labor’s new draft national platform, arguing it places disproportionate responsibility on Israel for the ongoing conflict while failing to hold Palestinian leaders including Hamas accountable. The rebuke comes ahead of Labor’s national conference in Adelaide, where delegates will vote on the expanded policy framework.
The draft marks a significant shift from Labor’s 2023 platform, which focused primarily on recognising a Palestinian state a step the Albanese government took last September alongside Canada and the United Kingdom. The new version goes much further, outlining detailed positions on the Israel‑Palestine conflict and signalling stronger expectations of Israel’s conduct.
Among the additions are explicit opposition to what Labor describes as “illegal settlement activity” and settler violence, as well as condemnation of recent Israeli laws approving the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis. The platform also expresses support for the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s embassy argues the draft unfairly singles out Israel while overlooking actions by Palestinian authorities and Hamas, warning that such framing risks distorting the realities of the conflict. The criticism underscores the diplomatic sensitivity surrounding Labor’s evolving stance, which has become increasingly detailed and assertive.
As delegates prepare to debate the platform, the issue is expected to spark intense discussion within the party and renewed scrutiny from international partners watching Australia’s position shift.
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