'Ambassador to another country': Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slams Trump administration after 'disgust' over Palestinian statehood call
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Thursday blasted Australia on the government's intention to recognise the state of Palestine, revealing the sentiment of 'disgust' by the Trump administration over the move.
'I think the timing has been very hurtful to any prospects of negotiating some settlement in Gaza with Hamas. They basically walked away. This is a gift to them, and it's unfortunate,' Mr Huckabee told ABC's 7.30 programme.
Responding to the US diplomat's comments on Friday morning, the Prime Minister said Mr Huckabee was an 'ambassador of a country, not Australia, to another country. Not Australia, Israel'.
'My job is to represent Australia's interests and Australians have been disgusted by what they see on their TV every night,' he told ABC Radio Melbourne radio.
'They were disgusted by the terrorist actions of Hamas on October 7, the slaughter of innocent Israelis, the taking of hostages, and the ongoing holding of those hostages have outraged Australians.
'But Australians have also seen the death of tens of thousands of people, when you have children starving, when you have children losing their lives with families queuing for food and water, then that provokes, not surprisingly, a human reaction.'
The exchange of remarks between Mr Albanese and the Trump administration comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the Prime Minister's announcement on Monday, which Mr Huckabee in his interview said was viewed as a 'disappointing' move by the US.
The Trump administration's discussions on the matter had involved US President Donald Trump US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Mr Huckabee said.
"There's an enormous level of disappointment and some disgust,' Mr Huckabee said.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier this week deemed the Albanese government's action to recognise Palestine "largely meaningless".
"It's largely meaningless, right?" Mr Rubio said in an interview overnight when pressed on the stance of countries ahead of the UN General Assembly.
"It's symbolic, and they're doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics."
Australia's call on Palestinian statehood follows in the foot steps of other countries including France, the United Kingdom and Canada who have outlined their intentions to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly.
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