Official NSW Young Australian Democrats

The NSW Young Australian Democrats would like to clarify their position in light of recent evidence indicating:

• Both IDF personnel and protestors acted violently and in a matter inconclusive to the cause of peace;
• The Israeli government offered to disembark aid and transfer it under the supervision of the protestors as early as a month ago; and
• Israeli troops boarded after repeated warnings and did not carry live ammunition in their original embarkation

It has been long-standing Democrats policy to call for the United Nations to take a strong and principled stand in an effort to stop one of the greatest conflicts of our generation. The Young Australian Democrats reaffirm this commitment and their belief that peace can only be achieved in the region with the intervention of the United Nations. The Young Australian Democrats therefore call on the UN to initiate an immediate peace-keeping force in order to protect both Israeli security and to ensure that all Palestinians can live free of intimidation and restrictions.

The Young Australian Democrats wish to express their heartfelt sadness at the loss of life and call for an Independent Investigation to be conducted and all parties to abide by the decisions of this investigation.

Hyperbole, accusations and conflicting information makes this situation impossible to resolve without the intervention of the United Nations, and the Young Australian Democrats call on all nations to ensure that such intervention happens in a timely and reasonable manner.