During a recent meeting of the United Nations in September, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his government’s commitment to recognising a state of Palestine. This decision marks a profound change in Australia’s foreign policy. It’s a good complement to other moves in the same direction made by countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Albanese said that he looked forward to this day. He hopes it will give the needed momentum to finally make a two-state solution possible as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains tumultuous.
His announcement comes amid the increasing violence in Gaza, where innocent civilians are paying the price. On a phone call last Thursday, these were some of the points Albanese raised with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In particular, he noted Netanyahu’s seeming denial of the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. He argues that frustration at the Israeli government’s treatment of its allies helped motivate Australia’s decision.
Australia’s Recognition of Palestine
Albanese’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state would be a historic step for Australia. This decision is an encouraging sign of a more assertive approach to international diplomacy. He stated, “There has been too many innocent lives lost but Israeli and Palestinians and the world is saying we need a solution to this conflict. We need to end the cycle of violence.” Above all, perhaps, this sentiment serves to illustrate the urgency with which the Australian government has been seized about what’s happening out there.
The Prime Minister hopes that Australia’s recognition will be remembered as a constructive step towards a two-state solution, which envisions a secure Israel alongside a demilitarised Palestinian state. Albanese articulated, “And the way to do that is to have a two-state solution with a demilitarised Palestinian state, where Hamas, of course, have no role to play in that and a secure Israel as a state which is recognised by the states around it.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphatically doubled down on this vision. She claimed that by recognizing Palestine, Congress would help international actors work to reform the cycle of violence. “We can’t keep doing what we have been doing and hoping for a different outcome,” Wong remarked, highlighting the need for new diplomatic approaches.
Concerns Over Hamas and Israeli Policy
Fortunately, Albanese’s administration seems determined to stick by its new approach. All he could promise was that there would be no guarantees on what Australia would set out as conditions for the Palestinian Authority. This begs the question of how much Australia can or should seek to leverage its aid toward good governance in Palestine in the future. Albanese suggested that the move of recognising Palestine would be a smart way of isolating Hamas, the radical Islamist group that controls Gaza.
The Prime Minister has faced repeated inquiries about whether Australia would reconsider its recognition should Hamas come to power through democratic processes. In retort, he focused on the idea that maintaining diplomatic relations is imperative, especially with countries whose ideologies sharply contrast our own. “We’re not going to stop diplomatic relations. That’s completely counterproductive,” he said.
Albanese condemned recent actions by Netanyahu’s government, including the suspension of aid and the resulting loss of life at critical distribution points in Gaza. He called this predicament “entirely untenable” and said it was “with the greatest of concern” that he wrote for those trapped in the crossfire.
International Collaboration and Future Steps
Australia’s shift towards recognising Palestine is part of a broader strategy to engage with like-minded allies in efforts to reconstruct Gaza and address humanitarian needs. Albanese underscored the need for ongoing cooperation with other countries in this effort. He stated, “Of course there is something we can do. We can stop them standing, let alone being elected.”
Both Albanese and Wong stressed the importance of international cooperation on these matters. Wong said that real change is dependent on a collaborative approach. He thinks that Arab countries, the Palestinian Authority, and the international community need to cooperate to make that a reality.
