Questioned Australia’s position on Israel’s designation of six West Bank human rights organisations as terrorist organisations and Israel’s continued settlement expansion.
UN human rights experts today said when this news broke: “This designation is a frontal attack on the Palestinian human rights movement, and on human rights everywhere.” The human rights experts called upon the international community to use its full range of political and diplomatic tools to request that Israel review and reverse this decision.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said: “How the international community responds will be a true test of its resolve to protect human rights defenders.”
Will the Australian government denounce this dangerous attack against Palestinian human rights defenders?
Whole interaction with Senator Marise Payne (Minister for Foreign Affairs) and Mr Marc Innes-Brown PSM (First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division, DFAT) during Senate Estimates (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio).
Senator RICE: I’m going to whip through a whole range of things in the next 30 minutes, starting with Palestine. Minister, last week the Israeli defence ministry designated six prominent human rights organisations in the occupied West Bank as terrorist organisations, effectively outlawing their activities. Was the Australian government or DFAT made aware of these designations before they occurred?
Senator Payne: Not that I’m aware of.
Senator RICE: UN human rights experts today said when this news broke:
This designation is a frontal attack on the Palestinian human rights movement, and on human rights everywhere.
The human rights experts called upon the international community to use its full range of political and diplomatic tools to request that Israel review and reverse this decision.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International said:
How the international community responds will be a true test of its resolve to protect human rights defenders.
Will the Australian government denounce this dangerous attack against Palestinian human rights defenders?
Senator Payne: Our post in Tel Aviv has made inquiries to the Israeli Ministry of Defence, which made the designation, seeking further information. We have been told that we will be provided with further details in due course, but that has not been the case so far. The Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism has reinforced these points to the Israeli embassy this week, and I am seeking further information to determine the purpose of the designations and what the historical scope might be from the Israeli authorities.
Senator RICE: Until you receive that further information, you’re not willing to make any statements?
Senator Payne: I want to know—and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to seek this information—what the basis of the designation is and to understand the steps that the Israeli authorities have taken. Then I will be in a position to inform actions going forward.
Senator RICE: Given the UN and human rights experts all around the world have made those comments that I just quoted to you, are you disturbed? Do you feel that it will be appropriate for Australia to call on Israel to revoke these designations?
Senator Payne: I’ve told you what my position is. I want to understand and get advice from the Israeli authorities, or get information from the Israeli authorities, in relation to the designations and to have a greater awareness of the purpose for which they have been made and the reasons for which they have been made. Then, if appropriate, the Australian government will make a comment.
Senator RICE: This happened in the same week that the Israeli authorities authorised the building of 1,300 new dwellings in occupied Palestine. Again, the UN has said that, internationally, people need to remind Israel that any settlements in the occupied areas are illegal under international law and are a serious obstacle to peace. What’s the Australian government saying to the Israeli government about the expansion of settlements?
Senator Payne: We’ve made our points in relation to settlements consistently, and you and I have discussed that here before, but if officials have anything further to add I’ll ask them to do so. Mr Innes-Brown.
Mr Innes-Brown : As you know and mentioned, Senator, there was an announcement. We have already raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities about that announcement, in line with our longstanding concern about settlement activity and other unilateral actions that threaten the prospects for peace. So we have already taken it up. Our charge d’affaires in Tel Aviv will take it up again in a meeting today, I understand.
Senator RICE: Minister, have you raised the issue with your counterpart after this last announcement of the 1,300 new settlements?
Senator Payne: We have not spoken in that time, no.
Senator RICE: Do you intend to?
Senator Payne: We’re not scheduled for a call currently, but I would definitely raise it in any call that we had.
Senator RICE: When might that be?
Senator Payne: Senator, I—
Senator RICE: Doesn’t seem like it’s a high priority.
Senator Payne: Senator, I think that’s completely unfair, actually, given that the public record clearly shows that I engage regularly—in fact, very regularly—with many of my counterparts, as many as possible. I’m sure that that call will be held in due course.