Australian Zionist Federation slams Labor for Palestinian state decision

The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) called recent move by the Australian Labor Party to recognize Palestinian state "unproductive."

By HAGAY HACOHEN
A woman attends a pro-Palestine march through central Sydney May 15, 2012. (photo credit: DANIEL MUNOZ / REUTERS)
A woman attends a pro-Palestine march through central Sydney May 15, 2012.
(photo credit: DANIEL MUNOZ / REUTERS)
The Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) slammed Tuesday Australian Labor decision to push for recognition of a Palestinian state should Labor win the upcoming 2019 Australian elections
ZFA President Jeremy Leibler called the decision "a firm rejection of efforts" done by Australia in the past to build bipartisan support for Israel.
He also said that "under Bill Shorten's leadership, the Labor party will remain a friend of Israel and the Jewish community.”"
The resolution "supports “the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognized borders” and “calls on the next Labor government to recognize Palestine as a state," The Guardian reported.
Australia formally recognized west Jerusalem as Israel's capital on Saturday, reversing decades of Middle East policy.
Opposition Leader of the House Tony Burke said that "today we say the Palestinians also deserve a land of their own”," The Guardian reported.