18 December 2018, Media Release from the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN)

“It’s Time”: APAN welcomes Labor Party Decision on Palestine

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network welcomes the Labor National Conference resolution calling on the next Labor Government to recognise Palestine.

“The Labor Party’s decision can provide a positive injection of hope and dynamism into the stalled peace process,” said Bassam Dally, Vice-President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network.

“We acknowledge this as a very important, symbolic step to recognising the rights of Palestinians to a homeland – free from Israel’s continued chokehold over Palestinians.

“Whilst it’s not with the urgency we had hoped for given the gravity of the situation, we commend the Party’s leadership in passing this motion and prioritising this issue.

“Recognition of Palestine is not a matter of ‘if’ – simply a matter of when. And in doing so, Australia would join 138 other countries around the world in recognising Palestine.”

“We would also like to commend the efforts of many people working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure Australia steps up to the plate, and joins global efforts working towards a just and lasting peace in the interests of all parties,” Dally said.

Along with this decision, APAN congratulates Senator Penny Wong, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, on her announcement increasing aid to the Palestinians as well as a pledge to reverse the egregious Morrison decision recognising West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

APAN looks forward to the next Labor government honouring their commitment to recognising Palestine in their first term.

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OTHER MEDIA

Guardian Australia: Labor conference votes for a Shorten government to recognise Palestinian statehood, 18 DEC 2018

NEWS.COM.AU: Labor’s foreign policy: Shorten government will ‘recognise Palestine as a state’, 18 DEC 2018

Tony Burke MP: Speech to ALP National Conference, 18 DEC 2018

Note: The Australian Friends of Palestine Association (AFOPA) is an affiliate member of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN).