Albo in talks with Palestinian President

News.com.au

a day ago

Anthony Albanese has held talks with the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas as Australia takes another step to recognising the Palestinian State.
Overnight, the Australian Prime Minister has revealed that he has also arranged to meet the 89-year-old Palestinian leader on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, where France has already announced it will back recognition.
The talks come amid reports Israel plans to reoccupy all of Gaza, a full 'conquest of the Strip' including areas in Gaza City where the military believes hostages are being held.
Israel's Ynet cited senior officials close to Netanyahu as saying: 'The die is cast – we're going for full conquest. If the Chief of Staff doesn't agree – he should resign.'
Mr Albanese is also trying to secure a phone call with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Australia has stopped short of formally confirming it will recognise Palestinian statehood to date, the talks with the Palestinian leadership is another sign that Australia is preparing to shift on the issue.
Mr Albanese reiterated Australia's call for the immediate entry of aid to meet the needs of people of Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and the release of all hostages.
The Prime Minister also reinforced Australia's commitment to a two state solution arguing that a just and lasting peace depends upon it.
President Abbas thanked Prime Minister Albanese for Australia's economic and humanitarian support.
The leaders discussed deepening co-operation across a range of areas, and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking on ABC radio, Liberal frontbencher Julian Leeser said he supported the state of Israel and the state of Palestine 'living side-by-side, but we're a long way from that today.'
'In order to achieve progress in the Middle East, we need to see Hamas, which we list as a terrorist organisation, lay down its weapons, recognise Israel's right to exist and, importantly, release the hostages,'' he said.
'We've always said that recognition of a Palestinian state needs to come at the end of a process, not the beginning of a process, and that includes dealing with issues like final status, issues around Jerusalem and around the boundaries they are.
'I think it's wrong that we're putting recognition on the table at this point, because it removes pressure on Hamas.'
The Albanese Government has declared that Australian recognition of Palestinian statehood is a 'question of when, not if' after the British Prime Minister warned the UK Labour government will move swiftly without Israeli concessions.
'What is happening in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' Communications Minister Anika Wells told ABC TV last week.
'It is now a question of when, not if, a two-state solution happens,' she continued.
'We are working with like-minded parties to ensure that happens as soon as possible.
'It is a question of when not if,' she said. 'There are things to work through.
In a joint statement of 15 countries, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other signatories said they had already 'expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognise the state of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call'.
The statement demanded 'an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access'.
The statement was co-signed by Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain.
It condemns 'the heinous and antisemitic terrorist attack of October 7th, 2023.' and demands 'an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages of Hamas, including the remains, as well as ensuring unhindered humanitarian access.'
The statement goes on to 'express grave concern over the high number of civilian casualties and humanitarian situation in Gaza and emphasise the essential role of the United Nations and its agencies in facilitating humanitarian assistance.'
It expresses 'our determination to work on an architecture for the 'day after' in Gaza which guarantees the reconstruction of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from the Palestinian governance.'
Keir Starmer has announced the UK will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes various 'substantive steps', including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza.
Sir Keir's move, which follows French President Emmanuel Macron's pledge to recognise a State of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly – would make the two European allies the first G7 nations to do so.
It must 'end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect' of a two-state solution, Sir Keir added.
'I've always said we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process, at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,' he said.
'With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.'