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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.”
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.
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 perpetrators.
In the media statement, the Israeli embassy said settler violence – which it described as a “reprehensible but marginal phenomenon” – was given “disproportionate attention”.
“Those seeking peace would be better served to focus its scrutiny on the terrorism experienced by both Jewish and Arab Israelis at the hands of terrorist groups such as Hamas,” it said.
The embassy also appears to have seized on shifts in language between the first draft of the 2026 platform and the one that will be debated this week.
For example, one of the lines that was included in the first iteration – “Hamas must disarm and can have no role in the State of Palestine” – was dropped from the final draft.
The final draft platform does, however, single out Hamas as a perpetrator of terrorism and violent extremism.
The embassy said all political parties should frame their policies “not around assigning blame, but around the conditions that history demonstrations are essential for lasting peace”.
“[Israel] remains committed to a future in which Israelis and Palestinians live alongside one another in peace and security,” it said. “That future, however, cannot be built through unilateral political declarations or international pressure directed at only one side.”
The minister for multicultural affairs, Anne Aly, appeared unfazed when asked about the embassy’s intervention.
“You know, they will do what they feel is right,” she told ABC Afternoon Briefing.
The language in the platform is set to be contested with Labor’s pro-Palestine and pro-Israel contingents likely to push for changes on the conference floor.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, declined to comment.
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