In a recent speech, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Canberra is considering recognizing a Palestinian state, marking a shift in Australian policy as the international community seeks a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Wong expressed support for British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s comments on the matter, noting that recognizing a Palestinian state would help make the two-state solution irreversible.
The Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories that have been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War. Israel has opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, insisting that any agreement must be reached through direct negotiations. Other Western countries, such as Spain, advocate for recognizing a Palestinian state and have been pushing for such a move within the European Union.
Wong emphasized the importance of discussions surrounding Palestinian statehood as a way to build momentum towards a two-state solution, which is seen as the only hope to end ongoing violence in the region. The two-state solution has long been the foundation of international peace efforts to address the conflict, although progress has been stymied for over a decade even before recent violence in Gaza.
While acknowledging the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Wong rejected Hamas’ involvement in any future Palestinian state. She pointed out that Hamas does not have a place in the peace process and should not be rewarded with recognition from other countries. The PA has recently requested reconsideration of their 2011 bid for full membership in the United Nations by UN Security Council due to opposition from US.
Wong stressed that recognizing a Palestinian state does not reward Israel’s enemies but rather serves as an essential step towards ensuring long-term security for Israel. She highlighted regional recognition of Israel’s existence to bolster its security and stability in
