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This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: Aug 11 at 9:51:18 UTC (history) |
| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article).
–Article last amended: Aug 11 at 9:51:18 UTC (history) |
Monday, August 11, 2025
The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has announced his government’s decision to formally recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. The decision follows similar moves by the United Kingdom, France, and Canada.
“Australia will recognise the State of Palestine. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received on the Palestinian Authority,” Albanese stated. “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza.” The Palestinian Authority, in question, promised the government it would continue to recognise Israel’s right to exist, demilitarise, and hold elections, in addition to other commitments. The recognition has also been promised with the condition that Hamas has no role in a future Palestinian government.
Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision, commenting, “To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that. Fall right into it … I think it’s actually shameful, but it’s not going to change our position.” Netanyahu previously told journalists that Australia and other countries were “delusional” for thinking Palestinian recognition would bring peace.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley also criticised the decision. “Until today it has been a bipartisan position that the question of recognising Palestinian statehood should come at the end of the peace negotiation process, not at the start or during it,” she said in a statement. “Anthony Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. Australians all want the war in Gaza to end. Ending this war is the only way to save lives and safeguard a two-state solution. The clear advice of our most important ally is this decision will not expedite that outcome.”
Daniel Aghion, the President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called the decision a “betrayal” of Israelis still being held hostage by Hamas. “This announcement gives them no hope for release. It leaves Hamas armed and in control of territory, and in a position to regroup and rearm,” he said in a statement.
