Fatima Payman Resigns from Labor Party Due to Disagreement on Palestinian State Position
West Australian Senator Fatima Payman has announced her resignation from the Labor party after voting in favor of a Palestinian state and becoming an independent sitting on the crossbench.
Her departure means Labor will need to seek support from non-party senators, including the Greens, to pass legislation.
During a media address explaining her decision to leave the Labor party, Ms. Payman noted she had only one conversation with the Muslim Vote movement.
Wearing a pin depicting the Palestinian and Aboriginal flags, Ms. Payman, as a minority and a refugee family member, emphasized her understanding of injustice and questioned Labor’s refusal to acknowledge a Palestinian state.
She expressed her disappointment with Labor’s official policy supporting a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, especially in the aftermath of the conflict initiated by Hamas.
Ms. Payman stressed her commitment to representing the diverse communities of Western Australia and advocating for justice and humanity.
She acknowledged the dilemma she faced between supporting internal change within the party, as desired by some Labor and union members, and conforming to caucus solidarity.
Ultimately, she felt compelled to resign from the Labor party, believing that her actions needed to align with her principles.
When questioned about her involvement with the Muslim Vote movement, Ms. Payman clarified her limited interaction with the group and emphasized her discussions with various community groups across Western Australia and the country.
Despite the Muslim Vote movement’s strong support for her, Ms. Payman announced her resignation from the Labor party, citing differences in the party’s stance on recognizing a Palestinian state.
She crossed the floor to support the Greens’ motion for a Palestinian state and was subsequently suspended from the Labor caucus before deciding to leave the party.
Ms. Payman clarified that she will not be joining the Greens, as confirmed in an interview with Sky News.
