Australia Formally Recognises The State Of Palestine

Australia has formally recognised Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, joining the pool of more than 150 countries to do so.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his intention to recognise Palestine as a state in August, making a joint statement from New York on Sunday alongside Foreign Minister Penny Wong, where they’re appearing as part of Australia’s delegation at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

“Now is the time,” Albanese said. “You can’t just watch what is unfolding there and not have a response.

“Australia is not [a] big player in the Middle East. It’s not a major trading partner. We don’t provide arms to Israel. What we can do, though, is to use this statement in conjunction with other partners to make this declaration.”

The recognition comes only days after a United Nations independent international commission of inquiry ruled that a genocide is occurring in genocide, with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and other senior leaders accused of inciting the violence.

“The terrorist atrocities that occurred by Hamas on 7 October ensure and underline why Hamas can play no role in the future Palestinian state,” Albanese said. “But just as the Jewish people have a homeland in Israel, Palestinians have a legitimate aspiration for their own homeland as well.

“Today’s act of recognition reflects Australia’s longstanding commitment to a two-state solution, which has always been the only path to enduring peace and security for the Israeli and the Palestinian people.”

Australia’s recognition comes as countries including Canada, the UK, France, Belgium, and Portugal use the UN assembly to make similar declarations, prompting backlash from Netanyahu, who warned of a possible military response in Gaza upon his return from the US.

“I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognising a Palestinian state after the horrendous 7 October massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize,” he said.

“And I have another message for you: it will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”

Australia dedicates itself to the pursuit of a two-state solution

Foreign Minister Wong did not say whether Australia would be establishing an embassy in Palestine, but did confirm that the government would immediately begin referring to the State of Palestine in official documents, in place of the previous nomenclature “occupied Palestinian territories”.

“This is the moment, the best opportunity that we have as a country to contribute to momentum towards a two-state solution,” she said.

In accepting Palestine as an independent state, Australia now recognises the leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, as the head of state.

The declaration included  “clear requirements” on the Palestinian Authority, with Albanese and Wong saying they had “given direct undertakings to Australia, including commitments to hold democratic elections and enact significant reform to finance, governance and education”.

The Palestinian Authority recognises Israel’s right to exist, and has been clear in their view that Hamas must not have a role in Palestine, as well as the release of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley said the move was a “hollow gesture of false hope to the Palestinian people”.

“For the Israeli people,” she said, “It extends a chilling act of concession to the Hamas terrorists who continue to seek their annihilation.”

Advocacy groups and politicians have argued this morning that mere recognition “falls well short of what’s required“.

“Recognition must be combined with accountability,” said Sarah Schwartz, Executive Officer of the Jewish Council of Australia.

“If Australia truly supports Palestinian self-determination, it must end all military cooperation with Israel and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide and deliberate starvation of Gaza. You cannot endorse Palestinian statehood with one hand while supplying parts of the weapons that destroy it with the other.”

Albanese is set to speak later in the week at a two-state solution conference at the UN headquarters, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia.