Kathmandu— Ahead of the July 23-25 meeting, the Israeli embassy warned the Australian Labor Party (ALP) against emphasizing certain themes in its draft platform, including support for a two-state solution and condemnation of Israeli settlement activity. The ALP's Ed Husic proposed recognizing claims of genocide in Gaza but faced significant opposition from within the party.

Israeli Embassy Raises Concerns

The Israeli embassy in Canberra expressed concerns about the ALP’s draft platform, which includes support for a two-state solution and condemnation of illegal settlement activity. The embassy warned that these policies could place responsibility for the conflict on one party while giving insufficient attention to Palestinian leadership and terrorist organizations like Hamas.

Husic's Proposal

Ed Husic, a prominent figure in the ALP, proposed recognizing claims of genocide in Gaza based on reports from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry. His motion also called for trade sanctions against Israel and investigations into dual nationals serving in the Israeli Defense Forces.

Managed Democracy at Play

The conference faced significant pressure to avoid debating uncomfortable topics such as Husic’s genocide recognition proposal. Initial supporters like the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) withdrew support, fearing backlash from pro-Israeli forces within the party. The orchestrated efforts to stifle debate were evident in a cringeworthy embrace between two Victorian federal MPs, Josh Burns and Basem Abdo.

The ALP conference concluded with a dampened discussion on Israel-Palestine issues, reflecting the challenges of balancing diplomatic pressures and internal party dynamics.

(With inputs from CounterPunch)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.