The Israeli Embassy in Canberra has criticised proposed changes to Labor’s Middle East policy, warning they would reduce pressure on Hamas while increasing demands on Israel.
The intervention follows reporting by The Australian on the draft national platform to be considered at Labor’s national conference.
According to the newspaper, the draft removes language requiring Hamas to disarm and play no role in governing a future Palestinian state. It also drops references to reform of the Palestinian Authority and guarantees for Israel’s security, while strengthening opposition to Israeli settlements, occupation and annexation.
The embassy described the changes as a troubling shift in Labor’s position.
“Reducing pressure on Hamas while increasing pressure on Israel risks emboldening Hamas,” it said.
The embassy said any lasting settlement required Hamas to be disarmed and excluded from political power.
It also accused the draft of placing greater obligations on Israel without making matching demands of the Palestinian leadership over terrorism, incitement and extremism.
The statement said the proposed policy failed to recognise the Jewish people’s historical connection to the Land of Israel and relied too heavily on international legal institutions that Israel regards as biased.
The criticism follows earlier concern from Australian Jewish organisations over Labor’s changing approach to Palestinian statehood.
JWire previously reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said recognition of a Palestinian state was tied to Hamas having no role in its future government, the group being disarmed and the Palestinian Authority undergoing reform.
JWire also reported criticism from the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council and the Zionist Federation of Australia after details of the draft platform emerged.
Both groups argued that removing explicit conditions on Hamas and the Palestinian Authority weakened safeguards that had accompanied Labor’s support for Palestinian statehood.
The Australian reported that Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Ted O’Brien had also attacked the proposed changes, saying Labor was abandoning important conditions attached to recognition.
The draft platform will be debated at Labor’s national conference before being adopted as official party policy.