Palestinians must do the hard yards on peace: Beazley

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley has weighed into the growing rift within Labor over formal ­recognition of Palestine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara, left, visit Moriah College in Queens Park, Sydney, with Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull yesterday. Picture: Renee Nowytarger

Former Labor leader Kim Beazley has weighed into the growing rift within the party over the Middle East, saying Palestinian leaders have become “very comfortable’’ applying moral pressure on Israel but have not undertaken the hard decisions necessary to reach a lasting peace.

As Bill Shorten prepared to speak to visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today, the Labor leader received some last-minute backing for his party’s increasingly tenuous ­policy on Palestinian statehood.

Mr Beazley said the focus on Israel and Mr Netanyahu, who he described as a “difficult messenger’’ for social democrats to bear, had effectively given the Palestinians a free pass on hard questions such as the issue of Palestinian returns and the ­status of East Jerusalem.

“I think they have become very comfortable with not arriving at a conclusion but with keeping the pressure on Israel,’’ Mr Beazley said.

His comments put him at odds with former Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Bob Hawke, in whose cabinet Mr Beazley served as defence minister, after the two former leaders called for the forma­l recognition of Palestine.

The comments, which came just days before Mr Netanyahu’s arrival, prompted a slap-down by the Israeli Prime Minister, who questioned the kind of state that might come into being.

“What kind of state will it be that they are advocating? A state that calls for Israel’s destruction?” he said. “A state whose territory will be used immediately for radical Islam?’’

Mr Netanyahu spent much of his second day in Sydney with Malcolm Turnbull, where the two leaders signed agreements on greater co-operation in air services and technological innovation.

Security featured prominently, with both sides expressing concern­ about Iran’s weapons prog­rams and its continued support for Hezbollah.

“We are working ... with other like-minded states to prevent terroris­t attacks,’’ Mr Netanyahu said. “This half-century will be dominated by progress and freedom, not renegade barbarism.”

Last night about 650 protesters marched through Sydney’s CBD, some carrying signs describing Mr Netanyahu as a fascist and a war criminal.

Mr Netanyahu earlier said he wanted to see two-way trade ­between the two countries triple from its current level of $1.2 billion a year.

“I’d like to encourage the Australian and Israeli companies to ­increase in trade,’’ he said. “If I did the schlep, they should do it too.”

Mr Netanyahu also met a bevy of Coalition ministers, including Scott Morrison, ­Defence Minister Marise Payne, Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

Mr Beazley argued that the weight of political pressure on Israel­ to recognise a Palestinian state had made it easier for Palestinian leaders to skirt difficult questions. “Their prestige is embellished by the support other countries give them and this removes incentives to reach an agreement,’’ he said.

The push inside Labor to extend­ formal diplomatic recognition to the Palestinians will come to a head at the next national conference.

Mr Shorten’s preference to adhere­ to Labor’s existing position, which withholds diplomatic recognition until a two-state solution is reached, is almost certain to be overturned.

Former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr, who has advocated to shift Labor’s policy toward a more pro-Palestinian line, said Mr Shorten would be rolled on the issue.