The ongoing debate around the Palestinian state remains a complex and multifaceted issue in international politics.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is preparing the ground for an historic shift.
Australia will recognise a Palestinian state, it is only a matter of when and how.
7.30 understands Mr Albanese has been privately indicating to Labor colleagues that such a declaration can only be made once.
He is aiming for a time that best contributes to a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
“What we’re looking at is the circumstances where recognition will advance the objective of the creation of two states,” Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.
“My entire political life, I’ve said I support two states, the right of Israel to exist within secure borders and the right of Palestinians to have their legitimate aspirations for their own state realised. That’s my objective.”
Support for Palestinian statehood among the world’s developed nations is growing.
British prime minister Keir Starmer said this week that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine by September unless Israel takes “substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term sustainable peace reviving the prospect of a two-state solution”.
The UK move came less than a week after French president Emmanuel Macron pledged to formally recognise Palestinian statehood in September.
Emmanuel Macron says France will recognise a Palestinian state in September. (AP: Ludovic Marin/Pool)
If both countries follow through, they would be the first G7 and UN Security Council members to adopt such recognition.
“This decision by France and the UK is significant,” Malak Benslama-Dabdoub, a lecturer in Law at Royal Holloway University of London, wrote on The Conversation.
“It signals a departure from the western consensus, long shaped by the US and the EU, that any recognition of Palestinian statehood must be deferred until after final-status negotiations.
“The move also highlights growing frustration in parts of Europe with the ongoing violence in Gaza and the failure of peace talks over the past two decades.”
‘Significant step’
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday signed a joint statement with 14 other countries — including France, Canada and New Zealand — expressing “our determination” to work on a “day after” plan for Gaza that guarantees its reconstruction and the exclusion of Hamas from “Palestinian governance”.
The statement also highlighted promises by Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas that a future Palestinian state would be “demilitarised”.
Mr Albanese spoke with Mr Starmer overnight and revealed there would be further conversations between the leaders “in the coming couple of days as well”, reiterated that Hamas can play no role in a future Palestinian state.
Sir Keir Starmer says the UK is prepared to recognise Palestine if Israel does not implement a ceasefire. (Reuters: Toby Melville)
He noted that the Palestinian Authority leader’s pledge implies a future Palestinian state can have neither a conventional or “paramilitary” force.
“That’s a very significant step forward,” Mr Albanese said.
“What we will continue to do is to put forward a principled position consistent with our unwavering commitment to the vision of the two-state solution.”
“In an immediate sense, we continue to call for a ceasefire. We continue to call for hostages to be released. We continue to say that Hamas can have no role in a future Palestinian state, and we continue to call for aid to be allowed to the people of Gaza.”
Mr Albanese said “Israel needs to be able to be confident … that they’re able to exist without a threat to their security.”
Mr Albanese said Australians want the fighting and killing to stop, and they do not want “conflict brought here”.
“My priority has been to try to navigate what is a very difficult situation.
“The young Jewish boy or girl going to the local school should not be harassed because of who they are. They are not responsible for what is going on in Gaza.
“And Arab Australians or Muslims are not responsible for what Hamas did.”
Former Labor trade minister Craig Emerson told 7.30 that the “recognition of a Palestinian state has been a long and difficult journey for Labor”.
