Israel’s ambassador to Australia has criticised WA Labor for pushing through a vote to recognise a Palestinian state.
Mirroring a recent controversial motion in NSW, the State Labor conference at the weekend backed a motion urging the next Labor Federal government to recognise Palestine.
WA Labor said it supported the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist within secure and recognised borders. But Israel’s ambassador Shmuel Ben-Shmuel said unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state was a danger to the two-state solution backed by countries such as Australia.
“We therefore regret the call for a unilateral recognition within the motion voted on at the WA ALP conference over the weekend,” the ambassador said.
“Such a recognition would only push the Palestinians further away from the negotiating table- which is the only place where peace can be achieved.”
The ambassador said he welcomed the more “balanced approach” of the Labor leadership and other members of the party on the issue.
Read the article by in The West Australian.