Australia to recognise Palestinian state
Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, confirmed the decision on Monday as he called a two-state solution 'humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East'.
'Australia was the first country to raise its hand at the United Nations in support of Resolution 181, to create the State of Israel – and a Palestinian state,' Mr Albanese said.
'More than 77 years later, the world can no longer wait for the implementation of that Resolution to be negotiated between the parties.'
He said the decision had been made after his government received commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to demilitarise, hold general elections, cease prisoner payments, reform schooling and continue to recognise Israel's right to exist.
The decision was immediately denounced by conservative Jewish community groups, with the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) calling it a declaration from the left-wing Labor government 'that rape and murder will be rewarded'.
'As a gift to Hamas for October 7, Labor has launched another attack on Israel,' the AJA said in an Instagram post.
'They damage our national security and risk the lives of Australians.
'No Australian government will steal the Jewish people's homeland. They can declare that the sky is pink for all we care. There has never been a state of Palestine and there never will be.'
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