Bishop lauded over settlements

AUSTRALIAN communal leaders have praised Foreign Minister Julie Bishop for challenging international claims that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal.

In an interview with The Times of Israel while visiting the country for Ariel Sharon’s funeral, Bishop was asked if she agreed with international consensus that settlements are illegal. She replied “I would like to see which international law has declared them illegal,” going on to say: “I don’t think it’s helpful to prejudge the settlement issue if you’re trying to get a negotiated solution. And by deeming the activity as a war crime, it’s unlikely to engender a negotiated solution.”

Her comments come two months after Canberra abstained in two annual UN votes critical of settlements – departing from the precedent of the previous Labor government with former foreign minister Bob Carr frequently labelling settlements illegal.

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein praised Bishop’s “principled and astute views on the legality of Israel’s settlements in the West Bank – views which for very good reasons happen to be shared by many of the world’s top experts in international law”.

Zionist Federation of Australia president Philip Chester said: “In contrast to the previous foreign minister, Ms Bishop is courageous enough to not simply echo prevailing perceptions about settlements, which prejudge negotiations and characterise Israel as having breached international law in relation to an issue which is complex.

“Rather, her attempt to encourage both parties to negotiate without pre-determined positions is fundamental to the process of moving towards a negotiated two-state solution and a permanent peace.”

Executive Council of Australian Jewry executive director Peter Wertheim said Bishop’s statements were to be applauded. “There has never been a definitive determination of the legality of settlements by a court. The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion in 2004 was just that, an ‘opinion’.” He added that it was “a welcome development to see Australia once again taking a stand against the UN’s obsessive bias against Israel”.

Carr himself criticised Bishop, saying that she showed “ignorance” of international law.

Her statements also attracted fury from Palestinian officials.

Calling on the Australian government to clarify its position, senior PLO official Hanan Ashrawi, said: “Such dangerous shifts in Australian foreign policy positions and Australia’s wilful defiance of international consensus send a clear message to both the international community and to the Palestinians that Australia is more committed to supporting Israel’s annexation of Palestinian land than backing any peace resolution.”

GARETH NARUNSKY AND NATHAN JEFFAY

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop