The Albanese Labor Government has refused to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements. This follows an announcement that the UK is moving to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine.
Foreign Minister Wong in the Senate today said “Australia is not at this time pursuing a blanket style import ban” on illegal Israeli settlements. Instead saying there will be ‘further targeted measures’, which were undefined.
International law is clear, Israel’s settlements in the West Bank are illegal and trade with businesses that operate in the areas, entrench the illegal occupation. Many countries have introduced a ban or significant restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements including Spain and Ireland, with others announcing they are following suit.
Senator Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said: “The world is moving and the Albanese Government is standing still. The UK Government has rightfully realised they need to reset the relationship with Israel, they cannot just keep ignoring international law. While the rest of the world is moving, the ALP has chosen to continue on, business as normal.
“How Foreign Minister Wong can stand there and say clearly that the Labor Government will ignore international law is beyond me.
“We have been told for years that the Albanese Government has been unwilling to take meaningful action against Israel without ‘like minded’ countries paving the way first. But as Spain, Ireland, South Africa and now the UK all take harder lines on the Israeli Government’s breaches of international law, it is clear they just won’t to act.
“The Israeli Government is knowingly occupying more and more of Palestine. In doing so they are dismantling any possibility of peace. This can only happen because hundreds of companies are playing a role.”
Senator Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice, said: “Israel has crossed red line after red line, and all the Labor government gives us is weak statements and no real action, so today’s non-announcement is no different. Despite their assurances that they will work with allies, they’ve now shown they won’t even do that.”
“This government talking about international law is an utter farce, and each day of their complicity costs more Palestinians their lives. People in this country will not forget that our leaders stood by and watched this depravity and did nothing.
“Over the last three years, Israel has perpetrated a genocide in Gaza while escalating the ethnic cleansing and violence in the West Bank, and even as our allies wake up and begin to take action, the Albanese Labor government sits on its hands and refuses to lift a finger.”
