Labor Friends of Palestine, an internal campaign group, will move three \u201curgency resolutions\u201d at the Victorian state conference on Saturday \u2013 the first major gathering of party members since May\u2019s federal election.<\/p>\n
Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/a><\/p>\n The motions call on the federal government to recognise a Palestinian state in this term of office, expand existing sanctions on two Israeli ministers<\/a> to \u201call executive members\u201d of the Israeli government \u2013 including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and end all direct and indirect military trade with Israel<\/a>.<\/p>\n They also urge the government to abide by the international court of justice\u2019s 2024 ruling<\/a> that Israel\u2019s occupation and settlement activity is unlawful by conducting a comprehensive public review of all \u201cmilitary, economic and political\u201d ties with Israel to ensure \u201cno Australian entities are providing aid or assistance \u2026 in the commission of unlawful acts\u201d.<\/p>\n The motions also call for the protection of civil liberties, including the right to protest, in response to proposed Victorian laws<\/a> and a plan by the antisemitism envoy, Jillian Segal, to strip funding from universities and arts bodies<\/a> that fail to address antisemitism.<\/p>\n They also demand the safe and unimpeded delivery of emergency humanitarian aid to Gaza, increased funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa) and the introduction of a permanent humanitarian visa and scholarship program.<\/p>\n The Victorian convenor of Labor Friends of Palestine, Oliver van Ingen, said the motions were the \u201cstrongest Palestine resolutions ever brought to Victorian Labor\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a huge groundswell of support in the party and the broader community. Albanese is correct to call Israel\u2019s actions \u2018completely indefensible\u2019, and these actions must be met by a strong international response,\u201d van Ingen said.<\/p>\n Guardian Australia understands the resolutions have been developed in consultation with supportive unions and are expected to pass. About 600 delegates \u2013 split evenly between party members and affiliated unions \u2013 will vote.<\/p>\n While non-binding on state or federal Labor MPs, they represent one of the most effective ways for rank-and-file members and unions to influence party policy.<\/p>\n At last year\u2019s state conference, six motions were passed calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, recognition of Palestinian statehood and for the Victorian government to scrap a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Israel\u2019s Ministry of Defence<\/a> in 2022. The MoU was ultimately allowed to lapse<\/a>, after sustained internal and public pressure.<\/p>\n A separate motion by Labor Friends of Palestine<\/a> \u2013 calling for sanctions on the Netanyahu government and an end to military ties with Israel \u2013 has already been adopted by more than 80 branches across Australia since June, including 16 in Victoria.<\/p>\n The group joined former foreign minister Bob Carr and Labor MP Ed Husic on Friday<\/a> in urging Albanese to follow France\u2019s example by pledging to recognise a Palestinian state<\/a>.<\/p>\n Speaking on ABC\u2019s Insiders program on Sunday, Albanese said recognising a Palestinian state \u2013 a longstanding part of Labor\u2019s policy platform \u2013 was not imminent.<\/p>\n He citied concerns around ensuring Hamas would be excluded from any future state, how such a state would operate without threatening Israel\u2019s existence and what role the Palestinian Authority would play.<\/p>\n But van Ingen argued Palestine should be recognised \u201cas a matter of urgency\u201d to \u201cguard against any further illegal reductions in their territory\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis decision cannot be contingent on a nonexistent peace process,\u201d van Ingen said.<\/p>\n![\"Gaza](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1753649950_934_1920.jpg\")
Gaza facing man-made mass starvation, WHO chief says \u2013 video<\/p>\n