Israel criticises Labor’s draft Palestine policy in rare foreign intervention ahead of party conference

The Israeli embassy in Canberra has publicly criticized Australia's Labor Party's draft policy platform on Palestine, ahead of the party's national conference. The embassy issued a four-page statement on Monday, arguing that the draft risks "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 contended that the draft gives "disproportionate attention" to settler violence, which it described as a "reprehensible but marginal phenomenon."
• It also noted the removal of a line from an earlier draft stating, "Hamas must disarm and can have no role in the State of Palestine."
• The intervention is unusual for a foreign state in a domestic political matter and highlights tensions between Labor and the Israeli government.
• The draft platform, which includes motions opposing annexation and calling for an end to settler violence, reflects shifts in government policy following the October 7 attack and the war in Gaza.