Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is walking a fine line as he moves towards Palestine being recognized as a sovereign state. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening by the hour. Albanese is facing growing pressure from the Australian public, including staunch supporters of the Liberal Party, to act that is more decisive and aligned with the progressive base of his electoral coalition.
The Prime Minister’s widely-anticipated September visit to the United States would be the perfect place for it. This visit has fueled talk of a possible summit with US President Donald Trump. As it stands now, no meeting has been officially scheduled, which will make any discussion all the more difficult regarding Australia’s position on Palestine. Albanese’s long personal history of pro-Palestinian views only adds to the political tightrope he needs to walk between domestic and international expectations.
As heartbreaking images of the horror in Gaza become pervasive and undeniable, Australian public opinion is turning quickly. Together with numerous citizens alarmed by the developing humanitarian disaster, advocates have petitioned legislators to act. Albanese understands just how sensitive this issue is. He must be aware that formal recognition of Palestine would pose obvious electoral difficulties for Labor in a number of key seats.
Just recently, Treasurer Jim Chalmers suggested that the question of whether Australia recognizes Palestine is not a question of “if” but “when”. This release highlights the administration’s desire to tackle the issue in the near future. Albanese has embarked on a diplomatic round in preparation for a potential decision on recognition, engaging with international leaders to gauge the political landscape.
Those who still doubt that Israeli authorities have a very quick trigger-finger for perceived anti-Israel events in Australia should consider again. Albanese has been mindful of these dynamics, recently seeking to communicate with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before consulting with other leaders. This is a smart strategy that recognizes the challenging line that needs to be walked in developing an international relations policy that promotes human rights.
Albanese positioned to give a climate-centric, call-to-action address during leaders’ week at UN. Look for Palestine to take up more and more space on our agenda. Equally exciting, the announcement about what cities will be recognized could coincide with this big, high-profile event. This move would bring Australia into line with France, UK and Canada—all of whom have diverged in their support for Palestinian statehood at various levels.
Indeed, Albanese only just had his first call with French President Emmanuel Macron last week. Their conversation explored the relevance of Palestine recognition in our current geopolitical context. Ed Husic, now on the backbench, has emerged as a vocal advocate for Palestinian recognition within the federal caucus, reflecting a shift in support among party members.
Albanese remarked on his cautious approach, stating, “We won’t do any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met.” He reiterated that any decision would not be taken lightly and would need to consider a host of safety factors.
The Prime Minister noted the difficulty and frustration in the recognition process. He asked how you remove a Hamas from the seat of power, and how you ensure a future Palestinian state does not pose an existential threat to Israel.
“How do you exclude Hamas from any involvement there? How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way which does not threaten the existence of Israel?” – Anthony Albanese
In spite of these challenges, there is a great urgency behind recognition efforts. Foreign Minister Penny Wong articulated this sentiment when she noted, “The reason for urgency behind recognition is this: there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the world does not act.” This strong language is indicative of the mood among many Australian leaders that sooner rather than later action will need to be taken.
Albanese appears to be preparing for more substantial announcements to be made during leaders’ week at the UN. It inspires his many fights to ensure Australia is an independent, sovereign country. “We’re a sovereign government and Australia makes decisions on behalf of the Australian government,” he asserted. This first step towards autonomy proves that Australia is serious about its sovereignty. While foreign viewpoints will inform the decision-making process, Pakistan’s ultimate position will center on its own national interests.
