Over 50 former and current Labor MPs, including the former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr, have signed a letter condemning what they perceive as Israel’s “domination” of Palestine.
The letter, initiated by NSW Labor upper house member Anthony D’Adam and state Greens MP Jenny Leong, was released on Tuesday, urging Australia to recognize Palestine as a state and reevaluate its relationship with Israel.
The letter, supported by the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, calls for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza and accuses Israel of “grossly” violating human rights law through its ongoing blockade of the strip.
It states that Israel is committed to policies that entrench the domination of one people over another, leading to the destruction of Palestinian society and the denial of their legitimate national aspirations.
Among the 200-plus signatories are Labor senators Louise Pratt and Fatima Payman, as well as long-serving Victorian federal MP Maria Vamvakinou.
The signatories include over 100 Greens politicians, such as Bob Brown and Adam Bandt, and five Coalition politicians, including former Nationals MP Ken O’Dowd.
The letter also calls on the Australian government to review its ties with Israel, emphasizing the need to contribute positively to resolving the situation in Israel and Palestine, which is deemed intolerable and dangerous for the international community.
Regarding the recent conflict in Gaza, the letter comes after Australia’s shift in position to vote in favor of a humanitarian ceasefire during an emergency session of the UN general assembly.
Australia joined 152 other nations, including Canada and New Zealand, in supporting the resolution, differing from the US position, which voted against it along with nine other nations.
Criticism of this shift came from the Israeli embassy in Australia, with Ambassador Amir Maimon expressing difficulty in understanding how Australia can support Israel’s right to defend itself while also endorsing a ceasefire that might empower Hamas to resume attacks on Israelis.
In response, Leong and D’Adam welcomed Australia’s change in supporting the UN resolution but urged the government to heed all the calls in the statement.
They emphasized the urgency of addressing the situation in Gaza, stating that everyone has an obligation to uphold human rights and international law.
The initiators believe that by adding their voices to the global call for an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace, they contribute to mobilizing communities worldwide.
