NSW Labor will unconditionally recognise Palestine and push to make Australia the 138th nation to do so if it takes power.
A campaign within NSW Labor, headed by former premier Bob Carr, won almost unanimous support from delegates at the state conference on Sunday. Mr Carr proposed the party would need to recognise Palestine — along with Israel — in order to save the two-state solution which affirms the right of both nations to exist within secure borders.
“As the oldest, the greatest, the biggest state branch we can’t afford to be stranded in history,” Mr Carr said.
“It is time now for another historic shift in Labor Party foreign policy. “We must balance our just recognition of Israel with the equally just recognition of Palestine.” Currently, 137 nations recognise Palestine as a state — but not the United States, Australia or New Zealand.
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