Australian Labor party votes to recognize a Palestinian state

The members of Australia’s New South Wales Labor Party votes for the recognition of a Palestinian state following a push by former foreign minister Bob Carr.

The resolution is watered down ahead of a conference on Sunday in Sydney and fails to follow its original call for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Carr, who also has served as Labor premier in New South Wales, proposed the resolution.

Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten has come under pressure to confirm his stance on the matter as the vote called on the next federal Labor government to recognize Palestine as an independent state.

Following on the heels of similar resolutions in the states of Western Australia and South Australia, the vote will present a challenge for Shorten when he heads the federal Labor conference next year.

— JTA