Recognition not enough: calls for more action on Gaza
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West Australian
4 minutes ago
- West Australian
What does recognising a Palestinian state mean?
Anthony Albanese is now among a growing list of Western leaders vowing to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. The Prime Minister heralded the decision as a step toward breaking 'the cycle of violence in the Middle East' and bringing 'an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza'. Though, not everyone agrees. Since making his Palestine declaration on Monday, Mr Albanese has been both accused of 'rewarding' Hamas and praised for joining global push to realise the rights of Palestinians. His more mild critics have argued it will do nothing to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. For better or worse, it is historic. So, why now and how will it all work? Why now? The 'momentum towards two states', as Foreign Minister Penny Wong described it, comes amid outrage over severe civilian suffering in Gaza, where Israeli forces have spent nearly two years relentlessly pursuing Islamist militants behind the October 7 attacks in 2023. Hamas, the group responsible, runs Gaza and its operations riddle the densely populated Palestinian territory, with tunnels and armouries nestled in civilian zones. More than 60,000 have been killed in the 22 month-long conflict, according to Gazan health officials. How many of those are Hamas fighters is unclear and because foreign reporters cannot enter Gaza, figures are hard for media to independently verify. But the death toll stacks up with assessments from independent monitors and local journalists working for trusted international agencies. So too do reports that nearly 200 have starved to death due to Israel's chokehold on aid. With the Israeli government rejecting that people were starving, French President Emmanuel Macron said in late July that it was time to break the status quo and make meaningful steps toward a two-state solution – Israelis and Palestinians living within sovereign, internationally recognised borders. The UK and Canada quickly followed suit, paving the way for Australia. Though, Donald Rothwell, a leading international law expert, said 'it's clear the Albanese government had been laying the groundwork' since 2024. 'There was obviously a significant intensity about how the government sought to build and prosecute its case over the course of the last 16 days or so,' he told NewsWire. Mr Rothwell pointed to three key developments that he said likely 'accelerated' Mr Albanese's decision. The first was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing plans to occupy all of Gaza. Australia joined several Western countries in condemning the plans in a statement, saying that actioning them would 'aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians'. The second development was Israeli settlers stepping up efforts to annex land in West Bank – the second Palestinian enclave and only territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The final development was a vote in Israel's parliament that showing overwhelming opposition to Palestinian statehood. Mr Netanyahu mentioned the vote in a press conference on Sunday. He told reporters the 'Jewish public is … against the Palestinian state for the simple reason that they know it won't bring peace'. 'It'll bring war,' he said. Mr Rothman said 'all those factors combined' drove the urgency. How will it work? Mr Albanese named four key commitments he secured from Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The first two include Hamas having 'no role' in a future Palestinian state and the PA recognising 'Israel's right to exist in peace and security'. While Mr Albanese said Mr Abbas 'reaffirmed' his support for the second point, the PA has no presence in Gaza and no control over Hamas. As Mr Rothwell said, 'It's not clear to me at all as to how the Palestinian Authority can achieve that, given that it has no control or authority over Hamas in Gaza.' The PA itself is commonly criticised for its corruption, ineffectiveness and lack of elections. The last presidential vote was in 2005. It also has a radicalisation problem in West Bank and pays families of 'martyrs' – Palestinians wounded or killed in flare ups with Israel. The 'Martyrs Fund' has been heavily criticised as supporting terrorism. Mr Albanese said Mr Abbas also committed to demilitarising and holding elections, and scrapping the payments to martyrs' families as part of broader transparency reforms. On election, Mr Rothwell said he could not see how the PA could hold 'fair and free elections' before the UNGA next month. Instead, he said the Albanese government and others promising to recognise Palestine are 'really trying to hold Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority to … free and true elections sometime towards the end of 2025 or early 2026'. In terms of how Australia recognises Palestine, Mr Rothwell said the Albanese government has taken an 'exceptional' pathway. A government can recognise a state at any time – it does not need to be at the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He said that in 'most instances' recognition is made official via a statement, so Mr Albanese announcing it to reporters from the prime ministerial courtyard on Monday 'was quite exceptional'. 'But then to have a two-step process, effectively saying in Canberra on the 11th of August, we're going to recognise, but then we're formally going to recognise that the UNGA … just falls into the notion of a Palestinian exception,' Mr Rothwell said. When Mr Albanese travels to the UN in New York next month, he will vote, alongside the leaders of France, the UK, Canada and several other countries, to join the 147 nations that already recognise Palestine. 'It's obviously a peak forum at which these matters can be discussed,' Mr Rothwell said. 'And in recent years, that peak forum in September has set aside some time for debate and discussion about Palestinian membership of the United Nations.' But he noted that 'the General Assembly vote is just one part of a two part process for a state becoming a member of the United Nations'. 'In the second part of that process is endorsement of that UN General Assembly vote by the Security Council,' Mr Rothwell said. Last year, a vote passed the General Assembly but was vetoed by the US in the Security Council. This has happened several times and the Trump administration is staunchly against Palestinian statehood while Hamas controls Gaza. But Mr Rothwell pointed out that statehood does not require UN membership. For example, Australia recognises Kosovo even though it is not a UN member. 'It's not exceptional that Australia recognises a state which is not a member of the United Nations,' Mr Rothwell said. 'Secondly, there are some states out there that Australia recognises who are not UN members and then membership may well be delayed or deferred or constantly blocked for a number of political reasons.' He added that 'throughout the history of the United Nations, that's not necessarily been exceptional'.
Perth Now
4 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Hostile:' Bishop hit with damning claims
Australian National University Chancellor Julie Bishop has been accused in a Senate hearing of bullying a staff member to the point of 'near suicide' following a private meeting where the former Liberal minister allegedly laughed at her and blocked her from leaving the room. In an emotional statement to a Senate committee on the quality of governance at universities, former ANU council member Liz Allen accused Ms Bishop of threatening behaviour after she was wrongly accused of leaking information about ANU's leadership to the media. Dr Allen alleged the bullying she suffered due to senior leadership, including Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell and Ms Bishop, pushed her into contemplating suicide, and senior leadership failed to support her after she suffered a miscarriage. 'ANU leaders behave with impunity, keep counsel in the dark and fail to adequately disclose conflicts,' Dr Allen told the Senate committee. 'Since 2024 I've experienced threats, intimidation and bullying because I sought greater probity of council conduct. 'I was bullied into near suicide. I miscarried a much wanted baby. I've lost the opportunity of a promotion. I fear for my job, and my career has been derailed.' Former Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Julie Bishop, is now the Chancellor of Australian National University. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Under university leadership structures, the council acts as an institution's governing body and is chaired by the chancellor. Dr Allen told the Senate committee during one council meeting in February, Ms Bishop specifically accused herself and another council member of leaking to the media – claims she rejects. 'I take my obligations extremely seriously and would never compromise my integrity,' she said. 'When I defended myself in this meeting, the chancellor suggested I defamed her. The repeated public allegations and increasing aggression was so distressing I cried and began to hyperventilate during the meeting.' She said Ms Bishop 'further berated me' and another elected council member in a private room following the meeting, in which Ms Bishop threatened a legal investigation, and said she would call 'a journalist to confirm I wasn't leaking' and blocked her from exiting the room. 'I became further distressed with the continued pursuit of false leaking allegations,' she said. 'Chancellor Bishop laughed incredulously at my emotional response, and at one point blocked me leaving the room. 'I was so distressed I couldn't breathe and struggled walking.' ANU demographer Dr Liz Allen said she had been bullied into 'near suicide'. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Dr Allen, who was pregnant at the time, told the committee the 'traumatising' meeting affected her 'so deeply' that she 'decided to kill myself' while driving home from the meeting. Two weeks later, she also suffered a miscarriage, after she was told her baby son's 'heart stopped beating'. 'I pulled over to write final goodbyes to my children and my partner. I emailed my supervisors so they knew I hadn't done anything wrong,' she said. 'A call from my husband stopped me taking my life I was pregnant at the time of these incidents.' Dr Allen told the committee 'further bullying and threats' continued after she launched a workplace complaint following the meeting, and alleged the chief people officer 'implied' she had 'mental health problems and dismissed the dysfunction of council'. She was also told by ANU Pro Chancellor Alison Kitchen that her 'position was untenable' and that she had a 'duty to resign all because I had no confidence in the council'. While Ms Bishop and Prof Bell were invited to the inquiry, they were unable to attend. ANU chief operating officer Jonathan Churchill said Ms Bishop was unable to attend the inquiry due to commitments as the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Myanmar, while Prof Bell was 'on sick leave' with the flu. Neither Ms Bishop or ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell attended the inquiry. NewsWire/ Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia While he didn't make specific reference to the claims, he said 'a number of the statements' made against ANU did 'not appear to be correct'. 'We have listened carefully to the proceedings from earlier today and the allegations made against the university. We take what has been said very seriously,' he said. 'We will examine all of the statements made and respond with particularity in writing to those assertions.' He also withdrew from commenting on allegations put forward by Dr Allen, adding that it could compromise the current grievance procedure launched by Dr Allen. Prior to Mr Churchill's appearance, inquiry chair and Labor senator Leah Blythe said that should ANU's representation not be able to 'answer senators' question' the inquiry would 'reserve our right to recall those witnesses at a later date'. 'Our inquiry goes till December, so I'm sure we will be able to find a time which is suitable for all, if that is required,' she said. In a statement during questioning, Greens' higher education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi said she was 'shell shocked and shaken' by Dr Allen's comments, and questioned Prof bell and Ms Bishop's future at the university. 'I feel no other pathway here but for Vice Chancellor Bell and Chancellor bishop to resign or be sacked,' she said. mental health helplines
Perth Now
4 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Bungled Bass Strait ferry arrives in Australian waters
A new 212m-long Bass Strait ferry involved in a port bungle dubbed the nation's biggest infrastructure stuff-up has arrived in Australian waters. Spirit of Tasmania IV, one of two replacement vessels, won't be operational until late 2026, years behind schedule, because the island state government hasn't yet built a berth. The ship left Scotland on June 30, after being kept there for months during an unsuccessful leasing bid. It arrived on Tuesday in Fremantle in Western Australia, as part of formal vessel importation procedures and for a change of crew and to pick up fresh supplies. A final fit-out, including the installation of mattresses, tabletops and artworks, will occur in Hobart following its expected docking on August 23. The Tasmanian government has stumped up more than $4.3 million to store the ship in Scotland. The state's Labor opposition previously labelled the failure of the ships' government-owned operator to build a berth in time as the "biggest infrastructure stuff-up in Australia's history". Costs for the berth at Devonport in Tasmania's northwest, expected to be completed by October 2026, have blown out from $90 million to $493 million. The saga resulted in Michael Ferguson resigning as deputy premier and infrastructure minister and moving to the backbench in October 2024. The second new Spirit of Tasmania ship was handed over from its Finnish builder to operator TT-Line in June. TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone said the arrival of Spirit of Tasmania IV in Fremantle was a significant milestone. "Spirit of Tasmania IV and V are generational investments that will ultimately benefit the broader Tasmanian economy and the visitor economy," he said. "We are obviously very excited about the new vessels - their increased size is important, which will allow for greater capacity for passengers, vehicles, caravans and freight."
