A signal Australia is prepared to recognise a Palestinian state has been branded by critics as a win for Hamas that rewards terrorists.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong laid the groundwork for the policy shift in a major address to a security conference at the Australian National University, saying statehood could help “build momentum towards a two-state solution”.
She argued recognising a Palestinian state would undermine Hamas and was the only hope for peace.
The criticism of the speech from Jewish groups in Australia and the Coalition was swift. They insisted it would be viewed as a win for Hamas.
“It certainly is a significant shift away from the bipartisan position that we have always taken with foreign policy and particularly towards Israel,” frontbencher Jane Hume told Seven.
“This is putting statehood ahead of security and it will be seen as a win for the terrorists.
“The idea that we would reward this kind of behaviour by people offering them statehood, I think, is a significant blow to Jewish Australians who should be rightly concerned with this change in stance.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion criticised the speech as “not the way to treat a friend and ally of Australia, such as Israel”.
But ANU National Security College senior adviser Ben Scott simply described the speech as “a … balloon being floated”.
Speaking with the ABC, Senator Wong did not back down from her remarks, stressing that no decision around recognition had been made.
“The point I’m making is that ultimately peace, security for Israel will only be achieved if we have a Palestinian state alongside Israel, the Israeli state,” she said.
Responding to her critics, the Foreign Minister said there would be no role for Hamas in a Palestinian state and Israeli hostages must be released.
“What we are looking at and working with the international community is a pathway beyond the immediate conflict – that’s what the discussion is amongst the international community.
“We have to work out how it is we break the endless cycle of violence.”
More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, since the conflict was triggered by Hamas’s cross-border attack on October 7.
The attack left 1200 people dead and more than 250 people taken hostage.
Senator Wong’s speech comes as a new application for Palestinian statehood is being considered by the United Nations Security Council.
The UK suggested it could also recognise Palestinian statehood but Foreign Secretary David Cameron indicated that would not happen while Hamas remained in Gaza.
The government has ramped up its criticism of Israel in recent months as violence has escalated in Gaza and is “deeply concerned” about a proposed ground invasion in Rafah.
“We are, alongside with the president of the United States and so many others in the international community, we are urging Israel do not go down this path,” Senator Wong said
Former ADF chief Mark Binskin was appointed on Monday to scrutinise Israel’s investigation of the air strikes that killed Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six of her colleagues.
A letter by Senator Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles sent to their Israeli counterparts about Ms Frankcom’s death has yet to be answered.
“I would say it is in Israel’s interests for the Australian government (and) Australia community to be satisfied that there has been transparency and accountability,” Senator Wong said.
– with Angie Raphael
