By abstaining on the latest United Nations General Assembly resolution against Israel’s occupation of Palestine, the Australian government has failed the Palestinian people, international law and the support for peace and justice in the world, Socialist Alliance national co-convenor Sam Wainwright told Green Left.
The resolution, adopted on September 18 by an overwhelming majority demanded that Israel completely end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories within a year.
One hundred and twenty four nations voted in favour, with 14 against and 43 abstentions.
The resolution called upon all member states to refrain from recognising Israel’s presence in the Territory as lawful and ensure they do not provide aid or assistance to maintaining the situation created by the occupation.
This includes taking measures to prevent their nationals, companies and entities under their jurisdiction from engaging in activities that support or sustain Israel’s occupation.
The resolution also called on nations to stop importing products from Israeli settlements and to halt the transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
It also called for sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals and entities involved in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Territories and ensuring that those engaged in these activities (including settlers) face legal and financial consequences.
“There won’t be any steps towards justice in the Middle East unless there is pressure put on Israel,” Wainwright said. “Australia’s refusal to support the latest UN resolution, which simply support the findings of the International Court of Justice [ICJ] means, in practice, it is supporting Israel continuing to do what it is doing.”
“The fundamental position of the Australian government is to support Israel. An example of that is the $917 million deal with Elbit Systems … only weeks after the ICJ found that there was a plausible case of genocide against Israel.
“Every state in the world has an obligation to stop that [genocide].”
Wainwright said Australia’s position “is partly the fruit of the AUKUS deal which has bound it more tightly to the US.
“It was heartening that a number of Western countries voted for the UN resolution.
“Not just Ireland, which you would expect, but also Norway, Finland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Iceland and, in our region, New Zealand and Japan.
“So it wasn’t only the Global South that voted in favour.
“The public pressure against Israel’s horrendous genocide … means that Israel is more isolated than ever.
“But Australia, Canada, Britain and the US are still not prepared to put any pressure on Israel to stop its genocide in Gaza.
“The Australian government has failed the Palestinian people, failed international law and failed [to support] peace and justice in the world at this critical point,” Wainwright said.