20 September 2021

Labor has consistently expressed our support for a just and enduring two-state solution to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians and will continue to call on both sides of the conflict to refrain from any actions that hamper peaceful outcomes for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

 

For example, we have repeatedly condemned violence and threats of violence against civilians caught in this conflict.  We have also expressed our serious concern about extremist positions from Palestinian groups such as Hamas, which continue to oppose Israel’s right to exist, as well as our opposition to indiscriminate rocket fire directed at civilians, the continued expansion of Israeli settlements and Israeli annexation of the West Bank, which was a stated objective of the previous Netanyahu Government.

 

A resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only come from open dialogue and discussion between the parties, not from a policy of exclusion.

 

We note that the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, announced in February 2021 that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is undertaking a feasibility study on how best to strengthen trade and investment with Israel, including possibly through a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

 

We encourage submissions to the Government’s process to ensure an informed debate. Inquiries can be sent to –

 

Levant Section

Middle East Branch

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

RG Casey Building, John McEwen Crescent

Barton ACT 0221

 

I encourage you to raise your concerns with the Morrison-Joyce Government directly -

 

Senator the Hon Marise Payne

Minister for Foreign Affairs  

PO Box 6100 

Senate

Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 

Phone: (02) 6277 7500 

 

The Hon Dan Tehan MP

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: (02) 6277 7420

 

The feasibility study is ongoing and we will await its outcome.