“It’s hardly a sufficient step if we’re keen in bringing real change and if we’re interested to bringing an end to the ongoing Israeli occupation and human rights violation in Palestine. This step actually depends on whether we’ll be able to translate it into meaningful action on the ground,” – Noura Mansour, APAN Member.

“Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser ­Mashni said the change was a “sensible, modest move”, and urged the government to now recognise a Palestinian state. “Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law and there is no doubt that Israel is occupying Palestinian lands,” he said, ” writes Ben Packham.

“Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law, and there is no doubt that Israel is occupying Palestinian lands… We look forward to the government taking the next step, and honouring its commitment to recognise Palestine,” Nasser Mashni, APAN President.

“Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law and there is no doubt that Israel is occupying Palestinian lands.. We look forward to the government taking the next step and honouring its commitment to recognise Palestine” – Nasser Mashni, APAN President.

“Israeli settlements are in clear violation of international law and there is no doubt that Israel is occupying Palestinian lands” – Nasser Mashni, APAN President.

“The UN and individual countries should be taking immediate and decisive action, as it has shown is possible with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Israel must be subject to UN and international sanctions until it abides by and meets its obligations under international law” – Nasser Mashni, APAN President.

“Recognising Palestine is already Labor policy, supported by the majority of Australians as a reasonable, moderate policy… Justice for Palestine is of concern to people across the party, in all factions, from the Prime Minister to unions and the grassroots. It doesn’t need to be a political football” – Nasser Mashni, APAN President.

“Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said “justice for Palestine” was clearly a priority” for Labor, noting the last federal conference called for recognition of a Palestinian state,” writes Packham, Brown & Panagopoulos.

“This step has received criticism from Palestinian advocacy groups like Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN). USyd Ethnocultural Officer and APAN-member called the IHRA definition “an incorrect conflation between Israel as a state and the Jewish people. Antisemitism is not anti-Zionism, just as opposing Australia’s colonial project is not therefore ‘racist against white Australians’,” writes Misbah Ansari.

“Meanwhile, the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network held its first study tour to Palestine since borders reopened, with Labor’s blow-in Parramatta MP Andrew Charlton and Senator Louise Pratt spotted in Ramallah last week. It comes as the Albanese government faces pressure from within the Labor camp to recognise a Palestinian state.Unlike Israel trips, the APAN tour is partially self-funded, with politicians stumping up for their own airfares,” writes Kishor Napier-Raman and Noel Towell.

“APAN president Nasser Mashni said… those who fly the flag across the globe “shows that the world does not support this violent repression” by an Israeli Government he said “forbids the flying of the Palestinian flag” and often imprisoning those who choose to do so,” writes Aymon Bertah.

“Labor’s 2021 national platform supported “the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders” and called on “the next Labor government” to recognise Palestine as a state,” writes Sarah Ison.

“The ALP has been moving towards recognition as an affirmation of Palestinian rights to self determination for nearly a decade. With extremists at the helm in Israel, there has never been a better time to enact this policy,” said Nasser Mashni, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network

“Carr, an outspoken supporter of Palestinian recognition, said Israel was persisting with a “cruel occupation that includes apartheid laws. It is not interested in negotiating a two-state solution and around the world patience with Benjamin Netanyahu has run out,” writes James Massola.

“For too long Australian politics has been bogged down in the now defunct ‘two-state solution paradigm,’ it is well past time for Australian politics to speak to the facts on the ground…. Israel is guilty of apartheid,” – Nasser Mashni, President of APAN.

“We welcome ANU’s responsible decision to protect the rights and freedoms of academics and students by choosing not to take on this politicised and discredited definition of antisemitism. It’s important that antisemitism and other forms of racism are addressed, and we already have effective measures in place” – Nasser Mashni, APAN president

“Palestinians are angry at their treatment by the State of Israel, not because their oppressors are Jewish, but because they live under a cruel and barbaric siege, their anger comes from people being killed, maimed and oppressed … We cannot censor the political views of Palestinians because they are unpopular” – Nasser Mashni, APAN president.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network said it was “disturbed” by the lack of transparency. “Universities that have adopted the definition have not consulted with community groups or stakeholders,” said its president, Nasser Mashni. “Some universities have engaged with us on this issue, but others have either refused to acknowledge our correspondence, or misled us.”

Excerpts from APAN’s inaugural Palestine Solidarity Conference featuring Randa Abdel-Fattah, Micaela Sahhar, Kim Bullimore, Senator Lidia Thorpe, Noura Mansour, Rand Khatib, and Tasnim Mahmoud Sammak.

“Discussions centred on how to raise public awareness about Palestinian human rights and oppression, rather than be derailed by endless discussions on differences between internal Palestinian political forces or what a final Palestine/Israel state will look like,” writes Michael Bull.