The ZFA has not seen any final text, and the platform has not yet been adopted. We do not propose to respond to speculation about an internal draft, and will assess the final platform if and when it is adopted.
When Australia recognised a Palestinian state, the Government justified that decision by relying on direct commitments from the Palestinian Authority to reform governance, end prisoner payments, reform education, hold democratic elections, demilitarise and reaffirm Israel’s right to exist. The Government was also clear that Hamas must have no role in a future Palestinian state, and that further steps, including diplomatic relations and embassies, would depend on genuine progress against those commitments.
The Government has repeatedly acknowledged that Australia is not a major player in the Middle East. Against that backdrop, it would be difficult to justify the Israeli-Palestinian conflict being elevated at the ALP National Conference in a way that no other foreign conflict is, particularly if the effect is to single out Israel while lowering expectations of Palestinian leadership.
That is the real issue. Criticism of Israel is legitimate. But double standards emerge when one conflict is treated as uniquely defining, while the obligations of Palestinian leaders are softened, omitted or allowed to fade.
The ZFA was deeply disappointed by Australia’s recognition of a Palestinian state while Hamas still controlled parts of Gaza and hostages remained in captivity. We warned at the time that premature recognition risked rewarding Hamas, weakening moderates and sending the wrong message to the Palestinian Authority.
For the ALP to now omit or dilute the very commitments the Government relied upon to justify recognition would compound that mistake. It would send the wrong message to Hamas, to the Palestinian Authority and to all those who understand that a genuine two-state outcome requires reform, demilitarisation, recognition of Israel and an end to terror, not a weakening of the conditions that make peace possible.