New Israel Fund Australia welcomes peace and coexistence at the heart of Labor's 2026 National Platform

27 July 2026 – Sydney

New Israel Fund Australia commends the joint address delivered by Josh Burns MP, Member for Macnamara, and Basem Abdo MP, Member for Calwell at the ALP National Conference over the weekend. Delivered before the opening vote on the Labor Party’s new Israel and Palestine platform, the policy affirms what NIF Australia has long advocated for: peace, dignity and self-determination for both peoples, led by both peoples, and with support from allies abroad.

Some have criticised the platform for failing to explicitly call for Hamas to have no role in Palestinian governance (as Foreign Minister Wong affirmed days earlier), and for not including a stronger reckoning with the destruction of Gaza and ongoing conduct of the Netanyahu government. However, the broad strokes of the policy are ones we support. An approach grounded in international law, in the dignity and security of both peoples, and in the practical question of what advances peace. More importantly, Burns and Abdo came together to find a middle ground, embracing compromise for the sake of unity. This is exactly the type of leadership we wish to see in Israel and Palestine. 

Ahead of the Conference, the Israeli Embassy in Canberra took the rare step of publicly objecting to Labor's draft platform. The ambassador's readiness to defend, downplay or dismiss all criticism — of Israel's conduct and of well-documented settler violence — reflects a government unwilling to accept responsibility or disagreement, even from friends.

Labor’s platform is not yet policy. The values expressed last weekend must be matched by sustained investment in the Israelis and Palestinians working to build the future their leaders have not yet delivered. NIF Australia will continue to provide a pathway for Australians to support that work.