ALP Fiddles While Palestine Burns

My between-the-lines reading of Labor's latest position on Palestine:

The Australian Labor Party conference:

Affirms Labor's support for an enduring and just two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the right of Israel to live in peace within secure borders internationally recognised and agreed by the parties, and reflecting the legitimate rights* and aspirations of the Palestinian people to also live in peace and security within their own state.

This merely means that Labor supports the division of historical Palestine into a sectarian, Jews-only apartheid state on 78% + of its former territory, and a bantustan, or series thereof, on what's left over.

Deplores the tragic conflict in Gaza and supports an end to rocket attacks by Hamas and the exercise of the maximum possible restraint by Israel in response to these attacks.

The crushing Israeli blockade and siege of Gaza, however, is not deplored. (Notice here the recycling of that musty Zionist propaganda trope: Palestinians always attack and Israelis only ever retaliate. Moving from propaganda to reality, what is actually being said here is that, while Palestinian retaliation must end, Israeli attacks are fine - just so long as they don't make the headlines.) 

Supports a negotiated settlement between the parties to the conflict, based on international frameworks, laws and norms.

... but not countless UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions?

Recognises in government Labor retained its commitment to two states for two peoples in the Middle East and specifically:

*Did not block enhanced Palestinian status in the General Assembly;

IOW didn't vote for it.

*Restated the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is occupied territory;

Really? Must've missed that one. All I can remember is Blinky Bill saying, "Middle Eastern issues are very complex..." (See my 9/6/14 post Israeli-Occupied Labor.) 

*Opposed Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, recognising that a just, peaceful and enduring resolution will involve a territorial settlement based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps;

That one too.

*Held that the settlements are illegal under international law.

What's with the bleeding obvious here? What's next? Labor held that water is wet?

Recognises that any resolution will be based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, a timeframe to end Israeli occupation, demilitarisation of Palestinian territory, agreement on a solution to Palestinian refugee issues, and resolution of the issue of Jerusalem's final status.

So only the proposed Palestinian bantustan is to be disarmed...

Agreement on a solution to Palestinian refugee issues? Issues? What f*****g issues?

Anyway, we already have a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue. It's called UNGA Resolution 194 and calls on Israel to repatriate those Palestinian refugees wishing to return or compensate those who choose not to. After all, we voted for it when it was first moved on December 11, 1948.

And if that's not enough, there's also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Specifically, Article 13(2) Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, AND TO RETURN TO HIS COUNTRY.

As for East Jerusalem, the resolution has already stated that it is occupied territory, so shouldn't it be calling for an end to same?

Recognises that settlement building by Israel in the occupied territories that may undermine a two-state solution is a roadblock to peace.

Labor calls on Israel to cease all such settlement expansion to support renewed negotiations toward peace.

Settlement expansion? Hang on - Labor has already acknowledged that Israeli settlements are illegal so shouldn't it be calling on Israel to DISMANTLE the bloody things, lock, stock and barrel?

Rejects the boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.

Since BDS is merely a strategy to pressure Israel to

a) end its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in 1967 and dismantle the wall;
b) recognize the fundamental rights of Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
c) respect, protect, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties, as stipulated in UN Resolution 194

Labor needs to spell out why exactly it rejects BDS.

But, of course, it won't, because then it'd sound indistinguishable from Zionist dead-enders who mutter darkly about a Palestinian 'demographic time bomb'. Definitely not a good look that one. 

Condemns the comments of the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, during the recent elections where he ruled out a Palestinian state, and further condemns his appeals to race during the campaign.

Oh, FFS, the Likud platform has always ruled out a Palestinian state, and Zionism is racism. And apartheid.

Recognises a lasting peace will require a future state of Palestine to recognise the right of Israel to exist.

What this actually means is that, for Labor, the onus is on the dispossessed and occupied Palestinian people to give their seal of approval to the continued existence of the apartheid, Jewish supremacist regime which usurped their ancestral Palestinian homeland. 

Recognises the special circumstances of the Palestinian people, their desire for respect, and the achievement of their legitimate aspiration to live in independence in a state of their own. This a cause Labor is committed to. If, however, there is no progress in the next round of the peace process, a future Labor government will discuss joining like-minded nations who have already recognised Palestine and announcing the conditions and timelines for the Australian recognition of a Palestinian state, with the objective of contributing to peace and security in the Middle East.

That's it??? That's what we're supposed to write home about??? That's the light at the end of the tunnel???

Pull the other, Labor!

[*I'm using the version of the resolution that appeared on the Guardian Australia website. I note that in the Australian of 27/7 there is no reference to Palestinian rights, only legitimate aspirations. WTF! Will the real resolution please stand up.]