Status Quo:

The current ALP Party Platform states that: Labor is committed to supporting an enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, based on the right of Israel to live in peace within secure borders internationally recognised and agreed by the parties, and reflecting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to also live in peace and security within their own state.

This is very similar to the Liberal party platform, the implementation of this policy usually leads both parties to the drib edict for “both parties to return to the negotiating table’.

Why this is inadequate:

• Israel has their sovereign state, but Palestine does not;
• Twenty two years of peace negotiations have not got Palestine any closer to justice; 
• ‘Agreed by the parties’ means that Israel is given the power to prevent Palestinians from achieving their own self-determination;
• Majority of the current Israeli cabinet explicitly indicated their opposition to the establishment of the Palestinian state (see attached);
• The Israeli Prime Minister’s own Party, the Likud party says there will be no Palestinian State.  The Prime Minister indicates he will not be allowing a Palestinian State.
• UN, World Bank and IMF have affirmed Palestine’s readiness for statehood. Australia has helped resource this by significant aid grants– but Palestine is not being allowed to govern. 
• The last twenty years of negotiations have meant:
  • for the West Bank: a growth of the number of Israeli’s living in the Palestinian West Bank to 600,000 people; settler violence with virtual impunity; a raft of control measures of Palestinians including the annexation wall, hundreds of checkpoints and Israeli only roads;
  • For Gaza: A blockade lasting for over 7 years, compounded by vicious military assaults.  90% of water undrinkable, highest unemployment in the world, 80% of the people reliant on food aid. Not one house rebuilt from last year’s military attacks that destroyed thousands of houses.
  • For Palestinian refugees in Middle East: ongoing languishing in neighbouring countries without full citizenship, limited capacity to escape violent conflict or seek refuge elsewhere.
  • For Jerusalemites: 300,000 Palestinians who Israel considers residents but not citizens of Israel. No democratic rights. No equal citizenship, insecure residency rights that are often revoked.
  • For Palestinians in the Israel: Unequal rights; increase in racism and fear about them; being considered a ‘demographic threat’; increase in jewish extremist attacks particularly on Holy sites.

Need to move on from the situation where Palestine begs at the table with their occupiers to international community supporting a real pathway to a just peace