Labor friends of Palestine criticise Australia’s decision not to join sanctions on Israeli settlements in West Bank

Australia declined to join move by UK, Canada and France in banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements

Labor party members have criticised the federal government for not following the UK, Canada and France in banning trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, urging Penny Wong to mount a stronger response to violence against Palestinians.

The Labor Friends of Palestine group wrote to the foreign minister on Wednesday, calling for Australia to join a coordinated approach with allied countries, in line with changes to the party’s national platform agreed in July.