Israel's ambassador to Australia has rejected accusations that his embassy sought to influence Australian domestic politics, defending its rare public statement ahead of Labor's national conference last month as a factual resource for decision-makers.
In a rare step, the Israeli embassy issued a lengthy statement before the Adelaide conference, criticising elements of Labor's draft platform on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The embassy argued the draft placed responsibility on Israel while overlooking the roles of Hamas and Palestinian leadership, drawing criticism from pro-Palestinian advocates who called it inappropriate foreign interference.
Ambassador's response
Speaking to SBS Hebrew on Thursday, Israeli ambassador Hillel Newman said "we had no intention and no actual intervention."
"All we did was we put forth facts for the decision-makers to have before them in making educated decisions," he said. "We are just a resource of some kind in giving the information. We did not intervene in the convention itself. We do not intervene in the process. We just brought information to the knowledge of the decision-makers."
Newman also noted that "the Palestinian envoys here also had some things to say about the ALP platform and convention, and no-one said it's foreign intervention."
Reaction from advocacy groups
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) condemned the embassy's statement at the time, with president Nasser Mashni calling it "an unacceptable attempt by a foreign government to influence Australia's domestic political processes."
Mashni said the draft platform fell "far short of taking appropriate action to recognise the Palestinian genocide." Israel has been accused of genocide by a United Nations inquiry, an allegation it denies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged war crimes, which Israel rejects.
Context of the Labor platform
Labor's national conference debates the party platform to set positions on various issues. The 2026 draft reflected shifts on Israel and Palestine since 2023, including the government's decision last September to recognise Palestinian statehood.
The proposed platform condemned Israeli settler violence and "illegal settlement activity," as well as new laws making the death penalty the default punishment for Palestinians who murder Israelis. It also expressed explicit support for the ICC, pushed for greater recognition of Palestinian rights, and condemned "terrorism and violent extremism, including as perpetuated by Hamas."
In its July statement, the embassy noted the motions were still draft form and said it would "continue to engage constructively with the Australian Labor Party through the usual diplomatic channels." It took issue with the draft's stance on settler violence and the ICC, suggesting it represented a "reduction of pressure on Hamas."
Government and conference outcome
A day after the embassy's statement, Foreign Minister Penny Wong reiterated that Hamas must disarm for peace. "Hamas continues to damage the prospects of a two-state solution and reject Israel's right to exist," she said. "Australia remains unequivocal in its condemnation of Hamas, including for its atrocities on October 7, 2023, and its ongoing acts of terror. The Australian government reaffirms that Hamas must disarm and play no role in the State of Palestine."
Delegates ultimately adopted the platform's positions on the conflict without significant changes. Newman said the embassy "appreciated" Wong's re-emphasis on Hamas disarmament.
Last week, US President Donald Trump announced Hamas had agreed to "complete disarmament," but the group says Israel must stop attacks and withdraw troops first. Israel has continued strikes into Gaza, killing dozens this week.
