Bill Shorten: Labor will continue to support a two-state solution

Bill Shorten has dismissed a controversial push by NSW Labor to break from decades of unqualified support for Israel and recognise a Palestinian state, declaring his party would continue to back a two-state solution.

The NSW branch, led by former Gillard foreign minister Bob Carr, is expected to pass a strongly worded motion at its conference later this month which “urges the next Labor government to recognise Palestine”, as revealed in The Australian.

Returning to work after a week of leave, the Opposition Leader said the NSW branch, which holds the ALP’s largest state conference, was allowed to “debate all manner of issues”.

But he maintained the party’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We support the right of Israel to exist within secure boundaries and we support the legitimate aspiration of Palestinians to have their own country. That’s the policy which is the Labor position and will continue to be Labor’s approach,” Mr Shorten said.

His comments will likely appease some Labor MPs, union officials and Jewish community leaders who have warned against “reckless” demands for recognising Palestine.

Read the full article by Rosie Lewis at The Australian (subscription only).