Jewish leaders have warned Labor against dropping key conditions linked to Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
They say removing references to Hamas disarmament, Palestinian Authority reform and Israel’s security would weaken the basis for a negotiated two-state solution.
The warning follows reports that the latest draft platform prepared for the ALP National
Conference in Adelaide has removed earlier references requiring Hamas to disarm, preventing it from playing a role in a future Palestinian state and holding the Palestinian Authority to reform commitments.
The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said it was “deeply concerned” by the reported changes, arguing the issues were central to any credible two-state solution.
“On top of the Government’s profoundly counterproductive move to unilaterally recognise the non-existent State of Palestine last year, these changes demonstrate how far the ALP is departing from Australia’s traditional bipartisan support for a negotiated two-state resolution,” AIJAC executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said.
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) said it had not seen the final platform and would assess the document once it was adopted, but warned that any dilution of the conditions attached to recognition of a Palestinian state would be concerning.
ZFA said the Government had justified recognition by relying on Palestinian Authority commitments to reform governance, end prisoner payments, reform education, hold democratic elections, demilitarise and reaffirm Israel’s right to exist. It also noted the Government had stated that Hamas must have no role in a future Palestinian state.
The organisation said criticism of Israel was legitimate, but argued that “double standards emerge” when Israel is singled out while obligations on Palestinian leadership are softened or omitted.
Labor’s National Conference will be held in Adelaide from July 23 to 25 and is the party’s highest decision-making forum.
The reported changes differ from Labor’s consultation draft, which stated: “Labor will continue to work with the international community to hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments and to encourage normalised relations between Israel and its neighbours. Hamas must disarm and can have no role in the State of Palestine.”
Rubenstein said those conditions were not secondary issues, but key commitments outlined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when Australia announced its decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
“Hamas’ disarmament and PA reforms are not peripheral issues. These were the central conditions repeatedly articulated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as prerequisites for Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state last August,” he said.
“Without them, any nominal verbal support for a two-state resolution becomes effectively meaningless.”
The Government announced in August 2025 that Australia would recognise a Palestinian state, saying the decision was based on Palestinian Authority commitments including governance reform, ending prisoner payments, education reform, demilitarisation and elections. It also stated that Hamas must have no role in Palestine.
Australia formally recognised the State of Palestine in September 2025. The Government said further steps, including diplomatic relations, would depend on progress on Palestinian Authority reforms and that any peace plan needed to guarantee Israel’s security.
Rubenstein said peace was not possible while Hamas remained armed and committed to Israel’s destruction.
“There can be no credible pathway to peace while Hamas remains armed and committed to Israel’s destruction, and without a reformed Palestinian Authority,” he said.
AIJAC said any move by Labor’s National Conference to weaken those commitments would undermine Australia’s long-standing bipartisan approach to the Middle East.
“These essential principles have been re-affirmed by the Government on numerous occasions,” Rubenstein said.
“Any attempt by the ALP National Conference to water down these essential principles not only undermines Australia’s long-standing bipartisan policy on the Middle East, but damages Australia’s national interests in seeking regional stability and security.”
The issue is expected to be debated at the Adelaide conference, where Labor delegates will consider amendments before adopting the final platform.