One of the most exciting announcements came from Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. The Australian government will vote to officially recognize a state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. Mideast discord is rising amid the latest war in Israel and Hamas. This decision was taken in response to the Israeli government’s intentions to continue its war and occupation in Gaza City. Yet Wong’s announcement, which is unprecedented for U.S. officials, has been met with blistering criticism from international officials, highlighting the growing divisions in international views over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During a recent discussion with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Wong emphasized the need for Palestine to be recognized immediately. He cautioned that if the global community did not act today, “there would be no Palestine left.” As a courtesy, she gave Rubio advance notice of Australia’s announcement to underscore the diplomatic sensitivity around the issue.
U.S. Officials Express Discontent
The United States response has been uniquely shrill. Australia’s move, deemed “terrible” timing by Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel at the time, sent shockwaves through this battleground state. He thinks this decision may unintentionally incentivize Israel to annex more territory in the West Bank. Huckabee’s statements reveal a broader sentiment among top officials within the Trump administration. They were said to have responded with “shock” to Australia’s about-face.
According to Huckabee, “What Australia and the other countries may have done inadvertently is push Israel to do exactly what they’re afraid of.” He further criticized the Australian government, stating, “There’s an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust” regarding their decision at this particular moment. He used the opportunity to double down on President Donald Trump’s plans to address the current violence taking place in Gaza.
In light of Australia’s announcement, Huckabee noted how it reflects a misunderstanding of Israel’s position in a challenging geopolitical climate. “I’m so tired of people blaming Israel for defending themselves,” he stated, underscoring his view that Israel’s actions are often mischaracterized.
Broader Context of Recognition Efforts
Now Australia intends to follow suit by recognizing Palestine, with France, Canada and the United Kingdom all bolstering this promise. All four of these countries recently stated their support for Palestinian statehood before the next UN General Assembly. Together with Wong’s announcement, this much points to a welcome shift in U.S. foreign policy toward addressing long-standing grievances that have festered amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s Finance Minister, is unambiguous on this point. He threatens that any move to acknowledge a state of Palestine will be met with a heavy price. He declared, “Those who try to recognize a Palestinian state will receive from us an answer on the ground … and ensure that by September the hypocritical leaders in Europe will have nothing to recognize.” This is an unusual statement indicative of the current high tensions and a potential escalation in rhetoric or response from Israeli officials.
The Israeli Knesset only last week adopted a non-binding measure to support the annexation of the West Bank. This decision now exacerbates the situation and has raised grave concerns among international observers as to how this will influence peace efforts in the region.
Future Implications for Australia-U.S. Relations
The consequences of Australia’s decision will affect its diplomatic relationship with the United States in the future. To her point, the Biden administration has similarly warned against any measures that could increase tension between Israel and Palestine.
Wong’s remarks regarding Australia’s recognition of Palestine illustrate this deep commitment. It focuses heavily on upholding international norms about statehood and the self-determination. It remains to be seen what this will mean for Australia’s strategic partnerships. That couldn’t be further from the truth—particularly for its most important partners, like the U.S.
