By abstaining on the latest United Nations General Assembly聽聽against Israel鈥檚 occupation of Palestine, the Australian government has failed Palestinian people, international law and to support peace and justice in the world, Socialist Alliance national co-convenor Sam Wainwright told聽91自拍论坛.
The resolution, adopted on September 18 by an overwhelming majority, demanded that Israel completely end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) within聽a year.
One-hundred-and-twenty-four nations voted in favour, with 14 against and 43 abstentions.
The resolution called upon all member states to refrain from recognising Israel鈥檚 presence in the OPT as lawful and ensure they do not provide aid or assistance to maintaining the situation created by the occupation.
This includes taking measures to prevent the citizens, companies and entities under their jurisdiction from engaging in activities that support or sustain Israel鈥檚 occupation.
The resolution also called on nations to stop importing products from Israeli settlements and to halt the transfer of arms, munitions and related equipment to Israel where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used in the OPT.
It also called for sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals and entities involved in maintaining Israel鈥檚 unlawful presence in the OPT and ensuring that those engaged in these activities (including settlers) face legal and financial consequences.
鈥淭here won鈥檛 be any steps towards justice in the Middle East unless there is pressure put on Israel,鈥 Wainwright said. 鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 refusal to support the latest UN resolution, which simply support the findings of the International Court of Justice [ICJ] means, in practice, it is supporting Israel continuing to do what it is doing.
鈥淭he fundamental position of the Australian government is to support Israel. An example of that is the $917 million deal with Elbit Systems 鈥 only weeks after the ICJ found that there was a plausible case of genocide against Israel.
鈥淓very state in the world has an obligation to stop that [genocide].鈥
Wainwright said Australia鈥檚 position 鈥渋s partly the fruit of the AUKUS deal which has bound it more tightly to the US鈥.
鈥淚t was heartening that a number of Western countries voted for the UN resolution.
鈥淣ot just Ireland, which you would expect, but also Norway, Finland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Iceland and, in our region, New Zealand and Japan.
鈥淪o it wasn鈥檛 only the Global South that voted in favour.
鈥淭he public pressure against Israel鈥檚 horrendous genocide 鈥 means that Israel is more isolated than ever.
鈥淏ut Australia, Canada, Britain and the US are still not prepared to put any pressure on Israel to stop its genocide in Gaza.
鈥淭he Australian government has failed the Palestinian people, failed international law and failed [to support] peace and justice in the world at this critical point,鈥 Wainwright said.