Concerns expressed over Australia's decision to recognise Palestinian statehood

SBS Australia

2 days ago

"The recognition itself is probably important from a symbolic point of view, but to be honest, it's not what we've been calling for in the last two years, or indeed for the last 57 years or or 77 years since 1948." That's Palestinian-Australian Mussa Hijazi. The Canberra-based lawyer was born in Australia and grew up in the Occupied West Bank. He's concerned the Albanese government's announcement that Australia would soon recognise a Palestinian state is a distraction from what's happening on the ground. "We haven't been marching for recognition. We have been marching and calling out for an end to the genocide that is taking place in Palestine." Protesters have been taking to the streets of Australia each week for the last 20 months, with the largest demonstration since the war escalated in 2023 being the tens of thousands of people who marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this month. Organisers claimed around 300,000 people participated in the protest, while New South Wales Police put the figure lower, at 90,000. "All this is doing in the meantime is creating a distraction from what is happening on the ground." In a 2024 interim ruling the International Court of Justice found it plausible that the Israeli offensive had violated the UN Genocide Convention, which the Israeli government strongly denies. It says it is fighting to defeat Hamas and to bring back Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The decades-long conflict escalated in October 2023 when Hamas killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign has since killed more than 61,000 people in Gaza. Mr Hijazi says there are practical actions the Australian government could take. "I think it's important to recognise that we do export F35 parts. We that we're at the stage now where our politicians, our Labor government, is telling us that they're non-lethal parts. Apparently, there are parts of the F35 jet that's been dropped that has been dropping 2,000-pound bombs on Palestinian civilians and destroying half city blocks at the time, apparently, some of the parts for that airplane that we manufacture here are apparently not, are not lethal." Australia has consistently denied sending weapons to Israel, but senior ministers have confirmed that parts of F35 fighter jets have been exported as part of a global supply chain program. Labor says any action on Australia's exports of component parts to Israel is unlikely to have an impact on the war in Gaza. People on the streets of Western Sydney have told SBS Arabic the move to recognise a Palestinian state is a step in the right direction. "I think that's great. And definitely I think, you know, the killings of innocent children, like anywhere in anything like it should be globally recognised, that this is just a wrong thing to do. And Inshallah, like all the eyes, like all eyes on Palestine now, so that it can, that we can stop this." "It should have happened a long time ago, there was too late now, after 50,000 people died, and I think the Palestinians should have their sovereignty. It's not up to the Australian government who cannot rule Gaza." "It's good step, you know? It's the right direction. And of course, because we have to follow England, England beat us first. So it's normal for especially the Labor Party, to support the state of Palestine. And it's very good step for all Aussies, especially when we had the big demonstration a couple of weeks ago, one of the biggest demonstrations on Harbor Bridge. So that it's a good wake-up call for all humanity, you know." The plan to recognise the state is based on assurances from the Palestinian Authority which governs the West Bank. It's conditional on Hamas, the Palestinian political-militant group and de facto government in Gaza that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Australia, playing no role in the future state's government. Adviser to the Palestinian Authority's Foreign Minister Ahmed al Deek has welcomed the move towards recognition. "We welcome the announcement made by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding Australia's decision to recognize the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly. We will build on this recognition to strengthen bilateral relations with Australia across all fields. Once again, we renew our call for all countries that have not yet recognised Palestine to take this step, as a means of safeguarding the two-state solution and contributing to resolving the conflict and achieving peace." But the move has been condemned by Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon. He told the ABC it won't lead to lasting peace. "It's important to emphasize that we reject the recognition, unilateral recognition. It will not change anything on the ground, it will not bring a ceasefire. It would not bring about a release of the hostages, and it will not bring the two parties closer." President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Leibler, told SBS Hebrew he's disappointed by the government's move. "While Hamas is still in control of significant parts of Gaza, ultimately, it's going to send a message to those in the region, including Hamas, that here is a reward for terrorism and the most barbaric act of terrorism committed on Jews since the Holocaust. So we think it's extremely misguided. Ultimately, this is not going to help Palestinians on the ground." Executive Director of the New Israel Fund Australia, Kate Rosenberg, has told SBS Hebrew she supports the move. "While this move alone won't end the conflict, it affirms the Palestinian rights are not up for negotiation, and that equality must be the foundation for any lasting future."