Australia will seek to play an important role in the post-war reconstruction of Gaza as part of the Albanese Government’s major foreign policy shift to join an international coalition recognising Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly next month. Source: The Age.
Mr Albanese stared down criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and broke with the Trump Administration yesterday to confirm that Australia would recognise Palestine, declaring that “the risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by”.
Mr Albanese revealed he called Mr Netanyahu last week to forewarn him of the decision, which his Israeli counterpart has blasted as “shameful” and insisted would not influence his government.
Jewish groups and the federal Opposition criticised the move, saying it would reward Hamas for the October 7 attacks of 2023 and undermine efforts to secure a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian advocates had a mixed response, with some dismissing it as symbolism while others celebrated it as an important step forward for the Palestinian cause.
“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra yesterday.
“Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary.”
Mr Albanese said the decision forms “part of a co-ordinated global effort” to create momentum for a two-state solution as he stressed that he believed Hamas could play no role in a future Palestinian state.
He said the decision was predicated on commitments from the Palestinian Authority, which controls part of the West Bank, including that it would hold elections next year and reform its governance structures.
Speaking after federal cabinet met to approve the decision, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the international community “has the chance to forge hope from despair” by breathing new life into efforts to create a two-state solution.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry President Daniel Aghion said the Government’s move was “a betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages who continue to languish in appalling conditions in Gaza”.
FULL STORY
Australia to recognise Palestinian state at UN and push for role in Gaza rebuild (By Paul Sakkal and Matthew Knott, The Age)
