The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) welcomes the Australian Government’s decision to support a landmark United Nations resolution calling for Israel to end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
This significant move aligns Australia with over 95 per cent of the world’s population, demonstrating a shift away from the minority position held by the US and Israel.
The resolution, passed overwhelmingly by the UN General Assembly, calls for Israel to cease settlement expansion, remove settlers from occupied lands, and end its occupation of the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem and Gaza.
In casting its vote, Australia joins the growing global consensus that Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide in Palestine must end, echoing the international community’s united action against apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s.
To bring this vote to life, words must be followed by action.
Further to its obligation not to support the maintenance of Israel’s unlawful occupation, as articulated in the International Court of Justice’s September 2024 Advisory Opinion, the Australian Government must now take decisive measures, including:
- imposing sanctions on Israel
- implementing an immediate two-way arms embargo,
- reviewing and suspending the economic and military connections Australia shares with this apartheid state to ensure those ties are not helping to maintain its illegal occupation, and
- supporting and advocating for international accountability mechanisms, including the International Court of Justice’s investigation into Israeli genocide in Gaza and the International Criminal Court’s investigations into Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Comments attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
This is an important step by the Australian Government, aligning our nation with the overwhelming majority of the world in standing up for Palestinian justice and human rights, and accountability for Israel.
Just as the world united to end apartheid in South Africa, we now see a global consensus forming to dismantle Israel’s illegal occupation, its apartheid regime and genocidal policies.
Australia’s vote is significant, but true leadership demands bold action – the Australian Government has an opportunity to turn this important gesture into justice for Palestine by imposing sanctions and a two-way arms embargo, and supporting accountability measures against Israel.