Balancing the ALP Israel debate
THE newly formed Australia Israel Labor Dialogue (AILD) will provide needed balance in the debate about Israel within the Australian Labor Party (ALP), former Queensland premier Peter Beattie says.
The group held its NSW launch last Friday in the presence of Labor figures, Jewish community representatives and visiting former Israeli Labour MK Einat Wilf.
Beattie, the chair of the AILD NSW board of patrons, was also present.
He told The AJN this week that the group’s basic goal is to establish a dialogue between the Labour Party in Israel and the Labor Party in Australia.
“But it’s more then just a dialogue with the Labour party in Israel of course; we want to have a dialogue generally with Israel, and I think it’s important that all shades of opinion within the Labor party are represented,” he said.
He said recent public debate has wrongly suggested that the ALP “simply supports one side” in the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
“It’s important that we understand that not everybody in the Labor Party is anti-Israel, because we’re not,” he said.
“But I do think there was a vacuum and that’s why the AILD is important, to make sure that that dialogue establishes a balance in the debate.
“To have informed dialogue you really have to have exchanges between Australia and Israel, and I would hope that would encourage young people in the Labor Party and Australians generally to visit Israel.”
He also pointed out that the dialogue extends beyond political debate.
“I went to Israel when I was premier of Queensland and I was impressed with the innovation,” he said. “I saw it in areas like water, energy, I saw it in plants … if we’re looking at partnering with innovation then Israel is a world leader.
“So this is also about smart business.”
Last year, former foreign minister Bob Carr presented a motion, which was adopted by NSW Labor, to “consult like-minded nations towards recognition of the Palestinian state” should there not be progress towards a two-state solution.
Beattie said it was too early to speculate what AILD “will and won’t do” should Carr present the motion to the ALP’s next national conference, but reiterated it’s important to have both sides of the argument.
NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Vic Alhadeff, who attended the launch, called the establishment of the AILD a very welcome development.
“There is a strong historic connection to Israel within the Labor Party, and this initiative will hopefully pave the way for a strengthening of ties,” he said.
GARETH NARUNSKY
Peter Beattie at the AILD launch.
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