Labor pro-Palestine faction calls for ‘clarity’ on A-G’s Israel trip

Labor Friends of Palestine has declared the group holds ‘deep concerns’ about Mark Dreyfus’s week-long visit.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, Labor’s most senior Jewish MP. Picture: NewsWire/Tamati Smith.

A Labor factional group supporting Palestine has called on the government to “clarify the purpose” of Mark Dreyfus’s trip to Israel, revealing a deepening split over the Middle East conflict within the party.

Labor Friends of Palestine has declared the group holds “deep concerns” about the Attorney-General’s week-long visit, citing Israel’s “ongoing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem”.

The left-wing faction has demanded the only purpose of the relationship-mending visit should be to make clear that Australia “stands unequivocally with international law”, calling on Israel to stop its “genocidal actions or face comprehensive sanctions”.

The strongly worded statement referred to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “fugitive under ICC arrest warrants”, after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest order in November for crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Mr Dreyfus, Labor’s most senior Jewish MP, revealed his intention to travel to Israel to repair the fractured relationship between the Albanese government and Israel which has become strained over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tensions flared last month when Mr Netanyahu accused Labor of overseeing a rise in anti-Semitism and criticised Australia’s support for a UN General Assembly resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“Any message delivered by Australia’s first law officer must be consistent with international law and with the positions taken by Australia at the United Nations and in bilateral statements,” Labor Friends of Palestine said.

“Most importantly, Israel must understand that Australians demand an end to the genocide, in line with the January 2024 ICJ ruling and the Australian-supported December 2024 United Nations vote for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire.

“Australia must also insist that Israel comply with measures ordered by the ICJ in January and March 2024 to ensure ‘unhindered provision at scale’ of ‘urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza’.”

Labor Friends of Palestine warned Mr Dreyfus that international law bodies could lay “further grave charges” against Israeli leaders, and “any meeting with war criminals would seriously damage the reputations of Australia and the Attorney-General”.

The group also pressed for the recognition of a Palestinian state “in line with official ALP policy”, and demand an end to “genocide” in line with a UN vote for a ceasefire which Australia supported last month.

“Mark Dreyfus should make clear Australia’s backing for the July 2024 ICJ ruling that Israel’s occupation is illegal and settlements must be dismantled as rapidly as possible,” Labor Friends of Palestine said.

“The Attorney-General needs to emphasise Australia’s unwavering support for the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination.

“This should include immediate recognition of the state of Palestine in line with official ALP policy.”