Labor’s shadow treasurer says party needs ‘practical’ policy on two-state solution and it should not be an ‘objective off into the never-never’

Two-state solution in Middle East requires actions not just words, says Chris Bowen

Senior Labor NSW right figure Chris Bowen says Labor’s foreign policy needs to include “practical steps” to achieving a two-state solution in the Middle East.



During an appearance at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, the shadow treasurer was asked whether Labor’s national conference should pass a similar policy resolution on the Middle East to the one passed by the NSW state conference in 2014.

Bowen put a careful toe in the water, while noting that he would leave detailed discussions about foreign policy to Labor’s foreign affairs spokeswoman, Tanya Plibersek.

The shadow treasurer said he maintained a close interest in the issue. A two-state solution could not simply be an “objective off into the never-never”, Bowen said.

The successful NSW motion in 2014 was drafted by the former NSW premier, federal foreign minister and Bowen’s right faction colleague, Bob Carr.

It called on a future Labor government “to consult like-minded nations toward recognition of a Palestinian state”.

The Carr motion backed the two-state solution while noting the lack of current progress – and recognised explicitly that “a Middle East peace will only be won with the establishment of a Palestinian state”.

“The state of Palestine should be based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps and with security guarantees for itself and Israel. If … there is no progress to a two-state solution, and Israel continues to build and expand settlements, a future Labor government will consult like-minded nations towards recognition of the Palestinian state.”

Advocates of reform within Labor ranks say a form of words such as those adopted by the NSW conference would likely have the numbers to clear the ALP’s national forum in Melbourne in July, given there would be cross factional support.

But it would be resisted vigorously by elements of the right faction in Victoria – federal leader Bill Shorten’s power base.

At the press club Bowen said he had been to Palestinian refugee camps. “They are not pleasant places,” he said.



He signalled that he might enter the debate at the national conference – but in the interim he would be sticking to his own portfolio. “If there’s something I’ll say at the national conference, I’ll say at the national conference,” he said.

Labor this week held a two-day session in Sydney to work through various disputes about the party’s draft national policy platform. There will be a concerted effort to resolve various flashpoints before July, but Bowen predicted there would be a debate about Palestine at the national conference.



Earlier this week, the United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon warned the prospects of achieving Middle East peace through a two-state solution were bleak.

Briefing a security council meeting, the secretary general said: “Over the years, we have seen determined efforts to achieve a comprehensive, negotiated peace based on a two-state solution.

“Instead of peace, however, there have been decades of missed opportunities and failures that have come at an enormous cost.”