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

The Labor platform is debated at each triennial national conference to settle the party’s positions on a wide range of issues, including Israel and Palestine. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP View image in fullscreen The Labor platform is debated at each triennial national conference to settle the party’s positions on a wide range of issues, including Israel and Palestine. Photograph: Steven Markham/AAP Israel criticises Labor’s draft Palestine policy in rare foreign intervention ahead of party conference Statement by Israeli embassy in Canberra challenges proposed positions on settler violence and annexation of Palestinian territory Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Israel has made an intervention into the Labor party’s internal processes, publicly criticising a draft policy platform that it claims risks blaming Israel for the Gaza conflict while giving “insufficient attention” to the role of Hamas. The Israeli embassy in Canberra issued a four-page statement on Monday challenging the proposed positions on Palestine , Hamas and settler violence in the West Bank, due to be debated at this week’s Labor national conference. “The Embassy of Israel notes these policy motions are still in draft form, and will continue to engage constructively with the Australian Labor Party through the usual diplomatic channels,” the statement read. “However, the embassy respectfully submits that several elements of the draft platform risk 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.” Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email It is unusual for a foreign state to involve itself in a domestic internal political matter such as a party conference, further exposing the tension between Labor and the Israeli government. The Labor platform is debated at each triennial national conference to settle the party’s positions on a wide range of issues, including Israel and Palestine. The language in the 2026 draft platform relating to Israel and Palestine is substantially different to the 2023 iteration , reflecting shifts in government policy following Hamas’ 7 October attack and Israel’s war in Gaza. There will be disagreement at next week’s Labor conference – but don’t expect the feuds of the past Read more The 2023 document contained just three lines on Israel and Palestine, all of which related to recognition of a Palestinian state – a policy the government formally adopted last August . The draft platform to be debated this week in Adelaide goes much further, including motions to express Labor’s opposition to the annexation of Palestinian territory and to call for an end to settler violence and the occupation. The Albanese government has been consistent in condemning settler violence in the West Bank, last month joining with other western nations to impose new sanctions on perpetra