Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recently spoken with the leader of the Palestinian Authority about recognising statehood. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
Anthony Albanese has had an urgent phone conversation with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and is trying to secure one with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Australia gets closer to recognising Palestine statehood.
Mr Albanese is under internal Labor Party pressure to formally recognise Palestinian statehood sooner rather than later, as a step towards finding a pathway to peace in the region.
There is intense speculation Australia could join France, the United Kingdom and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Those three nations last week signalled their intentions to recognise Palestine under the condition that Hamas has no role in its government.
The Israeli government is fiercely opposed to Palestine being recognised at all.
In his recent call with Mr Abbas, Mr Albanese did not commit to a timeline but reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution.
Mr Abbas thanked the Prime Minister for his “positive approach” and said Australia could play an essential role in helping achieve stability in the region.
He thanked Australia for its humanitarian donations to Gaza, including the recently announced $20 million top-up to help get food and medical supplies delivered.
The PM is also seeking a phone call with Mr Netanyahu, which, if it takes place, will be a very different conversation.
“I’ve said to Prime Minister Netanyahu before, as I’ve said publicly for a long period of time, that I’m a supporter of a two-state solution and that there can’t be peace and security in the Middle East without there being an advance on that two state solution,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Monday (4 August).
The PM also brushed off concerns that in recognising Palestine, it could stress Australia’s relationship with the United States.
“We’re a sovereign nation. Australia makes our decisions as a sovereign nation,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong wants Palestine to be recognised soon.
“There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community doesn’t move to create that pathway to a two-state solution,” Senator Wong told ABC radio.
“As you know, we have sanctioned Israeli ministers for their human rights abuses of Palestinians. We have sanctioned settlers for their actions in the West Bank.
“Yesterday, I announced additional aid for Gaza, an additional $20 million through channels that we know have been able to deliver aid in, and we are working with the international community towards the UN meeting in September in relation to a pathway to two states.”
Shadow attorney-general Julian Leeser, however, has warned against Australia rushing to recognise Palestine.
“I think it’s wrong that we’re putting recognition on the table at this point because it removes pressure on Hamas,” he said.
“I think it also sends a bad signal to other areas of conflict in the world, like in Somalia, South Yemen and Kashmir.
“It says to … terrorist organisations in those areas, the more pressure that you put on, the more intransigent you are, the more likely you are to achieve your ends.”
Nationals leader David Littleproud has also cautioned against recognising Palestine while Hamas is in control of it.
“You’ve got to make sure you live and work in the practical reality of the world, and Hamas is a terrorist organisation that would not just do harm to Israelis,” he said.
“They would also do harm to many of us if we were there as well.”
Labor backbencher Ed Husic wants Australia to recognise Palestine immediately.
“I think it’s an important signal to send,” Mr Husic said.
“But it’s up to the PM, obviously, who’s juggling a lot of different considerations before making that call, but I think he would get massive support out of Australians if he did it today.
“I think Australian politics has underestimated how strongly Australians feel about this issue.
“This is a moment, a sort of wake-up call for Australian politics.”
About 100,000 people joined a pro-Palestine march across Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday.
