11 April 2024

Federal Government considering recognising Palestine

| Chris Johnson
Join the conversation
20
Penny Wong

Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the Federal Government is considering recognising Palestine as a state. Photo: National Press Club.

Australia is considering recognising Palestinian statehood as a way to help secure peace in the Middle East and give Israel more stability.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong flagged the issue while delivering an address at the Australian National University on Tuesday (9 April), saying international recognition of Palestine as a state should be progressed.

“We need to build the pathway out of the endless cycle of violence. We need to build the pathway to a peace that is enduring, and just,” she said.

“Because the simple truth is that a secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians will only come with a two-state solution.

“Recognition of each other’s right to exist. A Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.

“We are now 30 years on from the Oslo Accords that put Palestinian statehood at the end of a process.

“The failures of this approach by all parties over decades – as well as the Netanyahu Government’s refusal to even engage on the question of a Palestinian state – have caused widespread frustration.”

Senator Wong said Australia was joining the international community in considering the question of Palestinian statehood as a way of building momentum towards a two-state solution.

She said a two-state solution was the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence.

And she refuted claims that recognition is rewarding an enemy.

Firstly, she said, because Israel’s own security depends on a two-state solution.

READ ALSO Government announces David Johnston as next Chief of Defence Force

“There is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognised by the countries of its region …,” the Minister said.

“Second, because there is no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. Hamas is a terrorist organisation which has the explicit intent of the destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.

“And it should be acknowledged that Hamas also rains terror on the Palestinian people in Gaza.

“It has long been understood that any future Palestinian state cannot be in a position to threaten Israel’s security and will need a reformed Palestinian Authority.”

Senator Wong again denounced the atrocities of Hamas on 7 October last year, as the greatest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust.

She added that, unlike Hamas, the State of Israel was not a terrorist organisation and it shouldn’t be acting like one.

“Any country under attack by Hamas would defend itself – and in defending itself, every country is bound by the same fundamental rules,” she said.

“Israel must comply with international humanitarian law.

“It must make major and immediate changes to the conduct of its military campaign, to protect civilians, journalists and aid workers.

“It must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale …

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation. It is proscribed as such in Australia. It has no respect for international law.

“Democracies seek and accept higher standards.”

The Minister’s speech also went to how the Middle East tragedy is playing out in Australian debate, saying it was “disheartening to witness” the number of Australians that increasingly struggle to discuss the conflict without condemning their fellow citizens.

“This imperils our democracy. We have to keep listening to each other, respecting each other,” she said.

“But I have heard language demonstrating that people are losing respect for each other’s humanity. Blatant antisemitism and Islamophobia.

“I’ve heard people who claim to represent one perspective, diminishing the legitimacy of the other. Seeking to intimidate and blame.

“It’s not OK to blame anyone in Australia for the actions of Hamas.

“It’s not OK to blame anyone in Australia for the actions of the Netanyahu Government.

“And it’s not OK to excuse egregious acts, just because they’re done by people whose views you share.

“We gain nothing by reproducing the conflict here, by talking past each other, by shouting each other down and by insisting on respective absolutes.”

READ ALSO Bully bosses in parliament could soon face fines and suspensions

Senator Wong pointed the finger at both the Greens and at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton “manipulating legitimate and heartfelt community concern for their own ends”.

“The Greens political party is willing to purposely amplify disinformation, exploiting distress in a blatant and cynical play for votes, with no regard for the social disharmony they are fuelling,” she said.

“This is not some game. There are consequences.

“At the same time, Mr Dutton reflexively dismisses concern for Palestinians as Hamas sympathising.”

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham, however, responded saying the government would be putting “statehood before security” if it preemptively recognised a Palestinian state.

“A two-state solution will only be possible with security, and confidence that the right of each party to exist will be respected by the other,” Senator Birmingham said.

Join the conversation

20
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
HiddenDragon9:48 pm 09 Oct 24

Recent reports that the Forrests’ charity foundation has donated almost half as much in Palestinian aid as the Australian government is a reminder that the latter (even allowing for the huge wealth of the Forrests) could do somewhat more of a practical nature –

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/twiggy-forrest-s-donations-to-gaza-now-half-that-of-australian-government-20241004-p5kfxo.html

Likewise, with reports today that serious food shortages are now in prospect in Lebanon, a major primary producer like Australia could obviously provide substantial help in that regard.

The question of Palestinian statehood and peace in that region will ultimately be decided by Israel, Iran and the US (and maybe China and Russia if they chose to intervene in a serious way) – small, distant powers like Australia should stop pretending to be relevant to that issue and do what we reasonably can of a practical nature to help the victims of that seemingly eternal power struggle.

There will never be peace in the Middle East. No one really wants it there. There will never be any forgiveness and that’s the start of any peace. Best to leave them fight it out over there than bring them here.

Marc Tremblay4:33 pm 09 Oct 24

‏𝐏𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄?
‏1. Before Israel, there was a British mandate, not a Palestinian state
‏2. Before the British Mandate, there was the Ottoman Empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏3. Before the Ottoman Empire, there was the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, not a Palestinian state.
‏4. Before the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, there was the Ayubid Arab-Kurdish Empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏5. Before the Ayubid Empire, there was the Frankish and Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem, not a Palestinian state.
‏6. Before the Kingdom of Jerusalem, there was the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, not a Palestinian state.
‏7. Before the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, there was the Byzantine empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏8. Before the Byzantine Empire, there were the Sassanids, not a Palestinian state.
‏9. Before the Sassanid Empire, there was the Byzantine Empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏10. Before the Byzantine Empire, there was the Roman Empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏11. Before the Roman Empire, there was the Hasmonean state, not a Palestinian state.
‏12. Before the Hasmonean state, there was the Seleucid, not a Palestinian state.
‏13. Before the Seleucid empire, there was the empire of Alexander the Great, not a Palestinian state.
‏14. Before the empire of Alexander the Great, there was the Persian empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏15. Before the Persian Empire, there was the Babylonian Empire, not a Palestinian state.
‏16. Before the Babylonian Empire, there were the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, not a Palestinian state.
‏17. Before the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, there was the Kingdom of Israel, not a Palestinian state.
‏18. Before the kingdom of Israel, there was the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, not a Palestinian state.
‏19. Before the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, there was an agglomeration of independent Canaanite city-kingdoms, not a Palestinian state.

Actually, in this piece of land there has been everything, EXCEPT A PALESTINIAN STATE.

This is called “grandstanding”. Wong has nothing to do with this issue.

Wong is insignificant – a millisecond blip in history

@Futureproof
An openly gay, Asian, lefty woman who is a prominent player for Australia on the world stage – I can see why that might trigger the tall poppy syndrome for you, Fp. It’s a shame for you that your opinion of her counts for nought – now THAT’S insignificance for you.

JS, I correct myself – a nanosecond blip for Wong’s influence on world affairs – page 1,000,000,000 in the book of history

@Futureproof
“… a nanosecond blip for Wong’s influence on world affairs – page 1,000,000,000 in the book of history”
Is that comment supposed to mean something, Fp – other than to highlight your personal political (and other?) bias?

Nevertheless, if it makes you feel better trying, very unsuccessfully I might add, to disparage the highest diplomat in the land, then fill yer boots and enjoy.

JS, unlike yourself, I can think for myself and don’t need government kool aide. You are a defender of mediocrity – I get that. I owe no allegiance to government ministers and call them for what they are

@Futureproof
If I was a defender of mediocrity, Fp, I wouldn’t take issue with most of your trite comments.

can they start with recognising the no vote

@gooterz
You need to get over yourself and the referendum … is done!

Yeah — “no” won. Done and dusted. But now there’s all the back door activism to get around it, since inner-city elites just know they are never wrong and everyone else is a dumb racist anyway. Smarmy cultural elites are so tiresome.

@Rustygear
So we are agreed – the referendum is done. I guess there’s a point to the rest of your post – whatever that might be.

@Rustygear
Actually, I didn’t lose anything. The referendum is over and my life hasn’tt changed one iota – just as it wouldn’t have changed had the referndum been successful. Nevertheless, if your self esteem needs a boost, then feel free to “claim your victory”.

Capital Retro8:47 am 12 Apr 24

Palestine already has an Embassy in Australia: https: //www.palestine-australia.com/

GrumpyGrandpa2:59 pm 11 Apr 24

The two-State solution is probably where this needs to end up, however, I fear the government is sending the wrong message here.

Hamas, is so entrenched that separating it from a Palestinian State, could be like separating the Taliban from Afghanistan.

@GrumpyGrandpa
Other than giving Dutton the opportunity for sound bites to hisconstituency, I don’t see a wrong message from the government here. As you say, the two-State solution, if it can be implemented would probably be the best outcome. Nevertheless, Wong and Albanese have reiterated that that solution does not include Hamas – which is the right message.

I certainly take your comparison of the Taliban and Hamas. One is a former terrorist organisation, which the ‘needs must principle’ dictated they be recognised, whereas the other is (currently) just a terrorist organisation.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.