Australia to Recognise Palestine as a State
Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Australia will recognise Palestine as a State at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly meeting this September.
Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said a two-state solution is, “Humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East”.
This decision comes after the Palestinian Authority (PA) committed to hold democratic elections, demilitarise and ensure Hamas, a terrorist organisation which attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, has no role in a future Palestinian State.
Australia will only follow up recognition with steps such as establishing an embassy in Palestine when the PA fulfills these commitments.
Canada, France and the United Kingdom (U.K) have also committed to recognising Palestine as a State at the UN General Assembly.
Albanese says Australia recognising Palestine is “part of a coordinated global effort, building momentum for a two state solution”. He also criticised the Israeli Government for denying sufficient aid, food, and water “to desperate people in Gaza” and said there needs to be a “political solution not a military one. Because a military response alone has seen the devastation in Gaza”.
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has committed to, “Help build the capacity of the Palestinian Authority” as well as “…Hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments”.
Meanwhile, the United States (US) has revoked the visas of members of the PA, including President Mahmoud Abbas, from entering the US and attending the UN meeting.
Responses to Australia’s Decision
Opposition leader, Sussan Ley, raised concerns about the timing of recognising a Palestinian State, “…with Hamas still in control".
Ley said, “A Coalition government would only recognise a Palestinian State at the conclusion of a proper peace process”.
In her statement, Ley said, “This decision, at this time, puts Australia at odds with the United States of America, our most important ally, and the most consequential player in the conflict in Gaza”.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said, "The US is disappointed that nations like Australia, U.K and others have decided to pick this particular time to unilaterally recognize a second state".
Meanwhile, the Arab League and European Union have called on Hamas to release the hostages it is holding, end its rule in Gaza, and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
Some background
In 1993, Palestine and Israel agreed to the Oslo Accords in which the PA agreed to recognise Israel and renounce terrorism. Israel agreed to recognise the PA as the representatives of the Palestinian people. The PA was established as an interim government at that time to manage health and education in the Palestinian occupied areas of the West Bank and Gaza.
Both parties agreed to have a five year negotiation process.
Two years later, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from the six largest Palestinian cities and both authorities mutually agreed on borders in the West Bank.
The economy, security and foreign affairs, continued to be controlled by Israel and was to be negotiated over the five years as the PA committed to establish a parliament and hold elections.
Peace talks slowed when Benjamin Netanyahu was elected, as Netanyahu froze the conditions of the Oslo accords.
Israel largely withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and blockaded the Gaza Strip, which is only 41 kilometers long and 13 kilometers wide at its widest.
The PA has not held parliamentary elections since 2006, where Hamas won and has since been in control of the Gaza strip. Abbas was elected president of the Palestine Authority in 2005 and has not held presidential elections since.