Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong has suggested the federal government recognise a Palestine state ahead of a two-state solution amidst the Israel and Hamas conflict.
Wong pitched the suggestion during a speech at an Australian National University national security conference dinner on Tuesday.
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She said the international community was “considering the question of Palestinian statehood as a way of building momentum towards a two-state solution”.
“A two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence,” she said.
“There is no long-term security for Israel unless it is recognised by the countries of its region,” she added.
Recently, there have been indications that the United Kingdom may be leaning towards granting international recognition to the territories as a state.
It was first suggested by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, despite the ongoing lengthy negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
However, Cameron said that the UK would not make the move while Hamas remained entrenched in Gaza.
Wong also cited Cameron’s statement that recognition could help make a two-state solution “irreversible”.
The Albanese government in Australia maintains a policy supporting a two-state solution, yet it has refrained from embracing the recognition of a Palestinian state ahead of achieving that goal.
According to the Labor Party’s 2023 national platform, it says Labor:
“Supports the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders.”
“Calls on the Australian government to recognise Palestine as a state.”
“There are always those who claim recognition is rewarding an enemy. This is wrong,” Wong said at the conference.
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