Labor’s foreign policy gestures alienate both Jewish and Muslim Australians

Since October 7, 2023, the Australian Labor Party has struggled to navigate the Middle East conflict, stumbling over itself in an effort to placate both sides. This balancing act was always destined to fail, not just because of the inherent contradictions in trying to satisfy opposing constituencies, but because Labor fundamentally miscalculated the cultural landscape here in Australia.

Labor’s mistaken belief that taking a strong stance on the Middle East would mend its relationship with young Muslim Australians has only deepened existing fractures. This misstep highlights Labor’s broader failure: an inability to read the room and address the cultural and economic realities of the diverse communities that make up modern Australia.