Labor Draft Platform Addresses West Bank Settlements and International Courts

Labor’s draft national platform calls for an end to illegal Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and supports the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court as they consider cases involving Israel. The text condemns a March Israeli law expanding the death penalty for terror offenses in the occupied territories and states that Labor opposes annexation of Palestinian land.

It does not accuse Israel of genocide or propose restrictions on arms sales.

The Israeli embassy in Canberra said the draft places responsibility for the conflict on one party and gives insufficient attention to decisions by Palestinian leadership and groups such as Hamas. It described settler violence as a marginal phenomenon that receives disproportionate attention.

The embassy added that the policy motions remain in draft form and that it will continue to engage with Labor through diplomatic channels.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network urged Labor to end Australian defense exports and military cooperation with countries that risk contributing to war crimes or genocide. It also called for the Future Fund to divest from entities linked to West Bank settlements.

The network’s president said recognition of Palestinian statehood must lead to wide-ranging sanctions on the Israeli government and any entities associated with the settlement enterprise. The United Nations reported an average of six settler attacks per day on Palestinians causing casualties or property damage in 2026, the highest annual rate on record.