Published: 21 December 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
200 current and former politicians have signed a letter demanding Australia recognise Palestine as a state and re-examine its relationship with Israel.
Dozens of high-profile labor figures are among the signatories, breaking ranks with the Albanese Government to accuse Israel of wanting to 'dominate' the Palestinian people.
The letter, co-ordinated by the NSW Labor MP Anthony D’Adam and Greens MP Jenny Leong, calls for a “permanent ceasefire and a just and lasting peace” in Gaza, and urges the Albanese government to recognise Palestine as a state “entitled to be free of occupation” and “examine” its relationship with Israel.
It was signed by three federal Labor MPs, Maria Vamvakinou from Victoria and WA senators Louise Pratt and Fatima Payman and more than 50 former Labor MPs including former NSW premier and foreign affairs minister Bob Carr. Also among the signatories were 11 members of the NSW Minns government, five Coalition politicians and more than 100 Greens politicians,, including Bob Brown and Adam Bandt.
“It is beyond dispute that Israel is committed to policies designed to entrench the domination of one people over another in the territories of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” the letter states.
“These events and policies have involved the destruction of Palestinian society and the denial of the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
READ MORE
Labor MPs break ranks to accuse Israel of ‘domination’ of Palestinians (SMH)
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