Australian Labor Maintains Israel a ‘Close Friend’ Despite UN Vote for Palestine Statehood

The Labor government has faced criticism for trying to appease both Israel and Palestine supporters.

A cyclist wearing the flag of Israel is seen during an art exhibition and demonstration at Centennial Park in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 14, 2024. Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles maintains Australia remains a “close friend of Israel” despite splitting from the United States and Israel on a key U.N. vote.

The Australian Labor government voted for a U.N. resolution (pdf) calling for Israel to end its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible.”

In light of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called Australia’s position a “flip-flop” while calling it disappointing.

“Awarding antisemitism and terrorism with a state in the heart of the Jewish ancient homeland and cradle of civilisation, will invite more terrorism and more antisemitic riots at campuses and city centres, including in Australia,” the prime minister’s office told The Australian newspaper.

No Change to Australia-Israel Ties

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Marles said there was no change in Australia-Israel relations.

“Well, we’re a close friend and we don’t see that there is any change in our friendship, our relationship, our support for Israel,” Marles told the ABC.

Marles also said there was no change in the government’s support for a two state solution.

“And the way in which we vote in the United Nations seeks to give expression to that. There are in fact many resolutions in the U.N. around Israel and Palestine.

“In terms of how we vote in the whole suite of those, we do so really trying to give expression to a view that we very much support Israel, but we support a two state solution and that ultimately does mean the establishment of a Palestinian state.”

The Results of the Vote

The resolution supported by Australia passed 157 votes in favour and eight against, including Israel, the United States, and Argentina. Ukraine was among seven nations that opposed the resolution.

The motion also called for the realisation of the “inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state.”

Further, it called for the “timely convening of an international conference in Moscow” for the acceleration of a comprehensive peace settlement.

Deputy Prime Minister Marles also said Australia’s vote was in line with the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada.

“So, if you stack up our voting record against those countries, you see significant consistency in the way in which we vote in the United Nations. But fundamentally we are absolutely a friend and a close friend of Israel. But we do support a two state solution and there’s nothing new in that,” he said.

Opposition Pushes Labor to Outline Position

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called for the prime minister to explain the government’s stance on Israel relations.

“It’s a complete departure from the promise that the prime minister made to the Australian Jewish community before the last election. He said that he would adopt a bipartisan position, as has been the case for his predecessors,” Dutton said in a press conference on Dec. 6.

“It’s impossible to imagine that [Labor Prime Ministers} Bob Hawke or Paul Keating or even Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard would have taken the path that Prime Minister Albanese has. I think it’s left our country less safe.”

Dutton said Australia was an essential ally of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and a key intelligence partner.

“We’ve averted terrorist attacks on our own people because of our close partnership with Israel,” he said.

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison also weighed in on the U.N. vote, writing on X that it was “shameful.”

“Labor have betrayed freedom and their own proud heritage on Israel. They have ended bipartisanship on Israel in Australia and been played the fool by accepting the lie of antisemitism masquerading as progressivism,” he said on Dec. 6.

Australia’s UN Ambassador Explains

However, Australian Ambassador to the United Nations James Larson told the U.N. General Assembly that the government had returned to its 2001 position.

Larson explained Australia’s vote reflected its determination that the international community “again work together to build momentum towards this goal” of a two-state solution.

“To that end, we welcome the resolutions confirmation that a high level international conference be convened in 2025, aimed at the implementation of a two state solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” he said.

Labor Balancing Israel-Palestine Support

The vote demonstrates the difficult tightrope the Labor Party is trying to navigate between its pro-Palestinian supporter base, and mainstream support for Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre.

The federal opposition and Jewish groups have pressed Albanese saying this position has allowed antisemitism to flourish in the community.

On Dec. 6, one of the worst incidents took place when the Adass Israel Synagogue in Melbourne’s east was targeted in an arson attack, which saw both sides of politics equally condemn the perpetrators.

Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian activists will launch a campaign in the electorate of Wills on Dec. 8. The seat is held by Labor MP Peter Khalil, who is facing pressure from the Greens.

“What we want is a Federal MP who will represent the Wills’ community’s deep sympathy for and solidarity with the Palestinians,” the group said in a statement.