Yesterday, Australia voted with 158 other countries, including the UK and New Zealand, in support of a UN Resolution supporting “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinians over their natural resources in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza and for the population of the occupied Syrian Golan. Canada, the US and Israel were among the countries who voted against the resolution.

The Jewish Council of Australia welcomes this significant shift in Australia’s international policy towards recognising Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as set out in the recent decision of the International Court of Justice.

We echo Foreign Minister Wong’s statement that Israel’s “ongoing settlement activity, land dispossession, demolitions and settler violence against Palestinians” is unlawful and undermines prospects for peace.

Sarah Schwartz, Executive Officer, Jewish Council of Australia:

“Palestinians in the Occupied Territories have been living under the world’s longest illegal military occupation. This has involved land dispossession, violence, home demolitions and the deprivation of rights to natural resources. Australia’s vote is a welcome first step towards acknowledging Palestinian’s fundamental human rights under international law.”

Dr Max Kaiser, Executive Officer, Jewish Council of Australia:

“We hope that this vote signals a shift in Australia’s foreign policy towards refusing to excuse Israel’s overwhelming violence and human rights violations against Palestinians. To ensure we are not complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses, this vote must now be accompanied by a review of all of our political, military and economic ties with Israel.”