NSW Right power broker Tony Burke will lead the push for a historic shift in Labor's position on the recognition of a Palestinian state at the party's July national conference, under an agreement hammered out with Bill Shorten.
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Mr Burke will propose a resolution at conference expected to mirror that put at NSW Labor conference last July. It stated if no progress was made towards a two-state solution "and Israel continues to build and expand settlements, a future Labor government will consult like-minded nations towards recognition of the Palestinian state".
A similar motion is widely expected to succeed at the federal level, too.
"Bill Shorten has moved on this, that's why he has commissioned Tony Burke to move the motion at conference," Mr Carr said, adding that "in this context any watering down of NSW conference decision would be very unlikely".
"This is about the leader accepting the inevitability of the party position shifting because of the impact of what [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu said in the elections and the movement in party sympathies, as confirmed by three states conferences."
Mr Shorten's strong personal support for Israel has not changed and he backed the status quo in the national platform, which calls for a two-state solution and for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace within secure borders.
Mr Burke is working closely with Labor foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek on the resolution.
Several other Labor MPs said the fact Mr Burke would put the resolution demonstrated Mr Shorten was taking a pragmatic approach to the potentially fractious debate.
The Opposition Leader was one of the few members of the cabinet who in 2012 supported former prime minister Julia Gillard in a damaging cabinet split over Palestinian status at the United Nations in 2012.
Mr Carr led and carried the case for the party to abstain on, rather than oppose, upgraded status for Palestine, defeating Ms Gillard and Mr Shorten.
A spokesman for Mr Burke confirmed he would move the resolution at
"Mr Burke has held strong and public views on a peaceful two-state outcome for many years, including previously as a member of the cabinet, and intends to participate directly in the debate.
"Mr Burke does intend to move a resolution on this issue, the precise wording of which will be determined closer to conference."
He will still face a fight from some of the party, in particular with sections of the Victorian Labor Right on this issue. Legal Affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus is expected to take the lead in opposing the resolution at the conference.
Nevertheless, the likely successful passage of the resolution effectively means a historic shift in Labor's position is in the offing.
Also on Tuesday, NSW Labor leader Luke Foley announced any Labor MP who received assisted travel to Israel would be expected to spend an equivalent time in the West Bank or Gaza to hear the case of the Palestinians.
