The Israeli embassy in Australia has voiced concern over the country’s draft national platform, arguing that it unfairly holds Israel accountable while neglecting the responsibilities of Palestinian leaders and Hamas. The draft is set to be reviewed at the Labor Party’s national conference in Adelaide this week. It outlines opposition to the expansion of Israeli settlements and settler violence, while also condemning laws that would sanction the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis.
Furthermore, the draft platform expresses support for international judicial bodies, namely the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC has notably issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, the Israeli embassy has dismissed assertions that Israeli settlements breach international law, maintaining that the borders between Israel and any future Palestinian state should be established through direct negotiations.
The embassy has also minimized the issue of illegal settler violence, describing it as limited and emphasizing that Israeli authorities condemn and prosecute such acts. They contrasted this with the frequent attacks carried out by Palestinians against Israelis. This ongoing debate arises as Australia continues to reevaluate its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, following its recognition of a Palestinian state last year.