‘We don't agree with many of the actions of Netanyahu and his government': Penny Wong
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially stated Australia recognises Palestine as a state, joining other nations such as the UK, France, and Canada.
'What I would say is we don't agree with many of the actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government,' Ms Wong said.
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AU Financial Review
an hour ago
- AU Financial Review
Israel's Smotrich seeks to ‘bury' idea of Palestinian state
Maale Adumim, West Bank/Tel Aviv | Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced work would start on a long-delayed settlement that would divide the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, a move his office said would 'bury' the idea of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian government, allies and campaign groups condemned the scheme, calling it illegal and saying the fragmentation of territory would rip up peace plans for the region. Reuters
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
West Bank settlement aims to 'bury' Palestinian state
Israel's far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement comes as many countries say they will recognise a Palestinian state in September. "This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday. "Anyone in the world who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state - will receive an answer from us on the ground." Development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to US pressure during previous administrations. On Thursday, Smotrich praised President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before". The E1 plan has not yet received its final approval, which is expected next week, and includes about 3500 apartments to expand the settlement of Maale Adumim. While some bureaucratic steps remain, if the process moves quickly, construction of homes could start in about a year. Most of the international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and its military occupation over the region since 1967, as illegal. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. Settler violence has skyrocketed, from destruction of olive groves and cutting water and electricity in communities, to incendiary attacks on Christian holy sites. Rights groups swiftly condemned the E1 plan. Peace Now called it "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" that was "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed". The announcement comes as the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement in an interview on Tuesday that he was "very" attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. He did not elaborate, but supporters of the idea believe that Israel should control not only the occupied West Bank but parts of Arab countries. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the area, and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. with Reuters Israel's far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement comes as many countries say they will recognise a Palestinian state in September. "This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday. "Anyone in the world who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state - will receive an answer from us on the ground." Development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to US pressure during previous administrations. On Thursday, Smotrich praised President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before". The E1 plan has not yet received its final approval, which is expected next week, and includes about 3500 apartments to expand the settlement of Maale Adumim. While some bureaucratic steps remain, if the process moves quickly, construction of homes could start in about a year. Most of the international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and its military occupation over the region since 1967, as illegal. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. Settler violence has skyrocketed, from destruction of olive groves and cutting water and electricity in communities, to incendiary attacks on Christian holy sites. Rights groups swiftly condemned the E1 plan. Peace Now called it "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" that was "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed". The announcement comes as the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement in an interview on Tuesday that he was "very" attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. He did not elaborate, but supporters of the idea believe that Israel should control not only the occupied West Bank but parts of Arab countries. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the area, and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. with Reuters Israel's far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement comes as many countries say they will recognise a Palestinian state in September. "This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday. "Anyone in the world who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state - will receive an answer from us on the ground." Development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to US pressure during previous administrations. On Thursday, Smotrich praised President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before". The E1 plan has not yet received its final approval, which is expected next week, and includes about 3500 apartments to expand the settlement of Maale Adumim. While some bureaucratic steps remain, if the process moves quickly, construction of homes could start in about a year. Most of the international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and its military occupation over the region since 1967, as illegal. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. Settler violence has skyrocketed, from destruction of olive groves and cutting water and electricity in communities, to incendiary attacks on Christian holy sites. Rights groups swiftly condemned the E1 plan. Peace Now called it "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" that was "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed". The announcement comes as the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement in an interview on Tuesday that he was "very" attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. He did not elaborate, but supporters of the idea believe that Israel should control not only the occupied West Bank but parts of Arab countries. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the area, and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. with Reuters Israel's far-right finance minister has announced a contentious new settlement construction in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which Palestinians and rights groups worry will scuttle plans for a future Palestinian state by effectively cutting the West Bank into two separate parts. The announcement comes as many countries say they will recognise a Palestinian state in September. "This reality finally buries the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Thursday. "Anyone in the world who tries today to recognise a Palestinian state - will receive an answer from us on the ground." Development in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, has been under consideration for more than two decades, but was frozen due to US pressure during previous administrations. On Thursday, Smotrich praised President Donald Trump and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as "true friends of Israel as we have never had before". The E1 plan has not yet received its final approval, which is expected next week, and includes about 3500 apartments to expand the settlement of Maale Adumim. While some bureaucratic steps remain, if the process moves quickly, construction of homes could start in about a year. Most of the international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and its military occupation over the region since 1967, as illegal. Palestinians fear the settlement building in the West Bank - which has sharply intensified since the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the Gaza war - will rob them of any chance to build a state of their own in the area. Settler violence has skyrocketed, from destruction of olive groves and cutting water and electricity in communities, to incendiary attacks on Christian holy sites. Rights groups swiftly condemned the E1 plan. Peace Now called it "deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution" that was "guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed". The announcement comes as the Palestinian Authority and Arab countries condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement in an interview on Tuesday that he was "very" attached to the vision of a Greater Israel. He did not elaborate, but supporters of the idea believe that Israel should control not only the occupied West Bank but parts of Arab countries. About 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel annexed East Jerusalem in a move not recognised by most countries but has not formally extended sovereignty over the West Bank. The UN and most world powers say settlement expansion has eroded the viability of a two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the area, and says the settlements provide strategic depth and security. with Reuters
West Australian
7 hours ago
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese deflects criticism over Palestinian recognition move, says media and Ley fed Hamas propaganda
Anthony Albanese has deflected criticism he has emboldened terrorists by advancing Australia's recognition of Palestinian statehood, and blamed others for the political storm it evoked. The Prime Minister instead pointed the finger at the Australian media and the Opposition for feeding into 'Hamas propaganda' after the terrorist group issued contradictory statements about his decision. Despite the confusion, Opposition leader Sussan Ley intensified her criticism of the PM saying he was 'making a real mess of this' and called for him to 'get back to domestic matters'. 'The Prime Minister has said he's not a cheerleader for Hamas. The problem is, that Hamas is a cheerleader for him,' she told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday. 'They're calling our Prime Minister a man of courage on a day when a terrorist organisation calls our Prime Minister a hero, surely he has to think about reversing the decision that led to that. 'It is time for the Prime Minister to get back to important domestic matters.' Hamas co-founder Sheikh Hassan Yousef had lauded Australia on the move in a statement to Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, saying the PM displayed 'political courage'. The comments unleashed a wave of criticism borne out of the idea that Australia's foreign policy was being praised by terrorists. Hamas disowned the statement by Thursday morning, posting on its Telegram channel the group 'denies the issuance of any statement'. But in a twist, the terrorist group had reverted their stance by the afternoon. Jumping on the confusion in a defensive morning press conference, Mr Albanese hit out at the media for what he claimed was 'publishing propaganda'. 'They say that the alleged statement from the person yesterday was someone who's been in prison in Israel … since October 2023 and has no means of communication,' Mr Albanese said. The SMH later clarified that quotes from the senior Hamas official were supplied by 'Yousef's political office in Beituina, a town near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, which issues statements on his behalf'. Reporter Matthew Knott also confirmed again on Thursday Yousef's office had released the statement and that he would soon be released from jail. The paper's stablemate the Australian Financial Review published the statement from Hamas denying the comments, saying Yousef had been in jail since October 2023 with 'no means of communication with any local or international press outlets'. However, late on Thursday Hamas issued another statement to the ABC, this time from media director Ismail Al-Thawabta lauding Labor's call. 'Such a move reflects a growing global awareness of the necessity to end the injustice suffered by our people for decades,' the terror group's spokesman told the public broadcaster on Wednesday. 'We call on the Australian government to translate this recognition into concrete actions – by exerting diplomatic pressure to end the Israeli occupation.' Earlier in the day, Mr Albanese cautioned the media against disseminating propaganda before moving on to attack the Opposition for being critical of his call to recognise statehood at UN leaders meeting next month. He even came prepared to his defensive press conference with a list of pro-Palestione quotes his political rival Ms Ley made in 2011. The Coalition have long supported the two-state solution with Israel and Palestine but has criticised the PM for declaring he would recognise Palestinian statehood in September when listed terrorist organisation Hamas is still in control of the region. 'We do support a two-state solution, but we don't support it outside of a proper peace process and a proper two-state process,' Ms Ley said. Ms Ley's criticisms were not just for the pathway for lasting peace in the Middle East but also putting Australia's relationship with our closest ally, the US, in jeopardy. She called the PM a 'bystander' in the alliance. 'It's vital that the Prime Minister addresses this issue because right now the relationship between Australia and the US feels as if it is drifting,' she said. The Coalition also called on Mr Albanese to 'urgently explain' why he refused a US request to sign a joint-nation statement condemning anti-Semitism in the wake of the terror attack on October 7, 2023.
