Recognising Palestine now only rewards Hamas, the side with clear genocidal intent
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that sunny day in the White House Rose Garden in September 1993 when then Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands with PLO Leader Yasser Arafat, under the benign gaze of President Bill Clinton. Today, peace between Israelis and Palestinians is much further away than it seemed then. Nevertheless, the two-state solution remains the objective; the question is not whether Palestinian statehood should be recognised, but when and on what conditions.
As with most other democracies, Australia has long taken the view that that should not happen until Israel's right to exist is acknowledged – as it was by the Oslo Accords – and its security credibly assured by the Palestinians.
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, the Palestinian Authority has been unable to give that assurance. The consequences for Israel of Hamas' control of Gaza – against which Israeli leaders long before Benjamin Netanyahu warned – were made horrifyingly clear on October 7, 2023.
However critical one might be of Israel's response in the nearly two years of warfare since, nothing can alter what happened that day, and the intent those events revealed: the elimination of the people of Israel. That had always has been the explicit objective of Hamas, declared in its foundational documents. The Nova Music Festival massacre merely made it manifest. Notwithstanding the destruction of Hamas' senior leadership and killing of many of its fighters, its objective remains unchanged.
The chilling irony of the debate about the Gaza War – in Australia, as elsewhere – is that those who most volubly condemn Israel for genocide are acting, wittingly or unwittingly, as apologists for Hamas, whose very raison d'etre is genocide.
Loading
Like 'fascist' before it, 'genocide' has become the go-to word of abuse for the left, a denunciation invoked with such indiscriminate carelessness that it has become unmoored from its true meaning. International law defines 'genocide' in the 1948 Genocide Convention as 'acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical [sic], racial or religious group'.
The forcible occupation of territory may be a violation of international law, but it is not genocide. Israel's announcement last week that it intends to deploy armed personnel to secure Gaza City is not a threat of genocide.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
28 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie vows to revive pride in Australian flag as many ‘disappointed' to see it debased
Shadow home affairs minister Andrew Hastie has claimed many Australians were 'disappointed' to see non-Australian flags flown on the Sydney Harbour Bridge last weekend, as well as protestors burning the national symbol in Melbourne. Major pro-Palestine protests in both state capitals saw a number of signs and flags raised in opposition to Israel, including some which appeared to show support for Hamas. New South Wales Police have since launched a series of investigations into the Sydney Harbour Bridge protesters over reported death chants, waving of terrorist flags and displaying Hamas and Nazi symbols. Mr Hastie is among those who criticised the protests, telling Sky News Australia he believed the majority of Australians would be "disappointed" to the Australian flag demeaned by the actions of protestors. The shadow home affairs minister has recently launched a campaign, Together Under One Flag, in an effort to "affirm" support for the national symbol and show gratitude for what it represents. Mr Hastie, who served with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) as a Troop Commander, said wearing the Australian flag on his uniform was a reminder of who and what he was fighting for. 'More than 100,000 Australians in the last 100 plus years have died under this flag. It's very, very important,' he said. The shadow home affairs minister said if people wanted to support his campaign were welcome to "join the movement" and order a bumper sticker from his campaign - available for free. "Let people know that you are proud to be an Australian and you have gratitude for what our country is about," he said. Mr Hastie said the Australian flag was the only flag which flew above the Commonwealth Parliament, and the only one that was draped over the coffins of fallen soldiers. Mr Hastie added flags 'mean a lot' and he did not want to diminish the flags of other nations, simply promote a sense of national pride in Australia's. 'I'm not a fan of ISIS flags, of course, or any of those other flags that we've seen flown on our streets over the last few years, but the Australian national flag is the only flag that speaks to all the aspirations of all Australians,' he said. 'When we win a gold medal at the Olympics, guess what flag goes up the flagpole? The Australian flag and I think it's really important internationally that we send the right signal.'
Perth Now
28 minutes ago
- Perth Now
‘Enough is enough': Albo on historic move
Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to recognise a Palestinian state amid worries it will do little to end the suffering in Gaza. Since making his historic announcement on Monday, the Prime Minister has been both accused of 'rewarding' Hamas and praised for joining the global push to realise the rights of Palestinians. Some of his more mild critics have questioned what Australia's recognition of Palestine would practically do – a question put to him during a morning show blitz on Tuesday. 'What it does is send a message that the international community is saying enough is enough,' Mr Albanese told Seven's Sunrise. 'This is a conflict that has gone on now for 77 years. 'The international community are saying we need to find a solution that promotes security for the state of Israel but also recognises the political aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state. 'That's why countries like the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and now Australia, but other countries, as well, will be joining in September at the United Nations to join the 147 countries that have already recognised Palestine.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his decision to recognise a Palestinian state amid worries it will do little to end the suffering in Gaza. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia He went on to say the status quo must be broken for any progress to take place. 'You can't just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome, and this is the best opportunity that there is out of a crisis to actually provide a long-term solution,' he said. 'One in which the states around Israel recognise its right to exist. 'One which sees a demilitarised state of Palestine, enables Palestinians to just live. 'To continue to do the same thing is not enough.' While the decision has spurred mixed reactions at home, it has been praised abroad. Among those welcoming Monday's announcement is Emmanuel Macron, who Mr Albanese spoke with last week before making his mind up. The French President was the first major Western leader to pledge to recognise Palestine at UNGA. 'I welcome the fact that Australian Prime Minister (Anthony Albanese) is joining the momentum we created in New York, which has already been supported by the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and others,' Mr Macron posted on social media. 'This reflects our commitment to the two-State solution and to the need to collectively rebuild a political pathway, without which there can be no peace and security for all.'
ABC News
28 minutes ago
- ABC News
Palestinian Authority says Australia's recognition will encourage other nations to follow
The Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank says it is prepared to yield to demands from countries including Australia to reform its processes and administration, as part of the process to recognise Palestinian statehood. On Monday, the Australian government announced it would shift its policy in the Middle East and recognise a Palestinian state, following similar moves by France, the United Kingdom and Canada. Each of those nations have attached slightly different conditions to their support, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying the PA needed to commit to measures such as demilitarisation, financial transparency and to hold elections. "Reform is a Palestinian demand," the PA's foreign minister Varsen Aghabekian told the ABC from her offices in Ramallah. "Yes, there were conditions by various countries on reform — but as a start, it's a Palestinian demand. "We want to become better in terms of how we govern our institutions, how we deal with our money, how we use best practices." The last Palestinian presidential election was in 2005, while the last parliamentary election was the following year. Dr Aghabekian blamed Israeli restrictions for making it too difficult to hold a poll. "Elections are a must, and as Palestinians, we want democratic processes, we want a democratic country whereby we can elect our leaders and we have been denied that democratic process because we are living under abnormal conditions," she said. "We are under occupation and that democratic process cannot include the entirety of occupied Palestine today." She said Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem were being blocked from taking part, and Gazans also needed to have their say in any ballots. Despite the Albanese government's insistence it is not a major player in the Middle East, the PA foreign minister argued it was influential in global affairs. "Australia is a weighty country, its recognition will make a difference, it will bring others to recognise, hopefully, and it safeguards the two-state solution," she said. "It sends a very clear message that Australia is with international law, it respects international law, it respects the rights of people to self-determination, and it wants to move alongside the Palestinians and the Israelis on the peace track." Dr Aghabekian said she had received a call from her Australian counterpart Penny Wong on Sunday night, local time, informing her an announcement was imminent. But she revealed she woke to the news on Monday morning with surprise, hours after Senator Wong and Prime Minister Albanese revealed the decision in Canberra. While Australia has joined allies in the move, the biggest player in the debate has not, with the United States remaining opposed. "It's not fruitless, it's fruitful," Dr Aghabekian said of the Albanese government's decision to act before the US. "That will create a critical mass of nearly the whole world saying that there's a consensus on this illegal occupation and the need to dismantle this occupation." A White House official said the US President Donald Trump viewed recognising a Palestinian state now as a reward for Hamas after the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Fifty Israeli hostages are still held captive in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. It echoes the rhetoric from senior members of the Israeli government, including President Isaac Herzog. "These declarations, by Australia and other countries, are a reward for terror, a prize for the enemies of freedom, liberty, and democracy," he said on Monday. "This is a grave and dangerous mistake, which will not help a single Palestinian and sadly will not bring back a single hostage." Ahead of the announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was "shameful" countries such as Australia would consider the issue. Dr Aghabekian rejected the sentiment. "It's not a reward for Hamas, it is a reward for the plight of the Palestinian people who have been suffering immensely for seven decades. "And non-recognition is a reward to the extremists in Israel, whether in the government or the settler organisations and their leaders." Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories was ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice last year. News of the Albanese government's decision had quickly spread through the streets of Ramallah, 15 kilometres and a concrete wall away from Jerusalem. "Honestly, it's amazing," Saida Shahout told the ABC. "We've seen something that we've never seen before, which is more countries are siding with us and seeing the injustice that's happening with our country and with the people of Gaza." Her sister Huseina said the move was long overdue. "We're at this point in our lives where why does everything have to [come from] war? " she said. "Why is it always a violent action? Why can't we just come to an agreement? You're a person, I'm a person and we can both sit at the same table and have a meal. "When you cut me, I bleed the same colour you bleed — there should be no difference between the two." West Bank resident Amjad Tamimi welcomed the decision. "I see the Australian advancement together with many other countries — France which was, to be honest, the first initiator in this direction — this is a good thing and will bring peace to the region and stability," he said. "Naturally this talk, the recognition of these states, the Palestinian state, will have an impact on the Palestinian situation in general — the political situation, the economic situation, the social situation." Fellow local Azmi Samah feared symbolism would only go so far, as the Palestinian population was under threat from Israeli forces. "The Palestinians have been here for a long time, we are not waiting to be recognised, they recognise us from the outside, but if we are not given a state, then we have not benefited," he said. "So if the whole world recognises it and we in the reality don't have a state, then we have not benefited from this at all." His comments point to the concerns around issues such as Israeli settlements being built throughout the West Bank — a practice that is illegal under international law, but which the Israeli government approves and encourages. The Albanese Government's push to recognise Palestinian statehood has happened 22 months into the war in Gaza, where local health authorities say more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed. "What we are experiencing is something incomprehensible, something that we have never experienced in the past," Dr Aghabekian said. "And this recognition brings to the Palestinian people a glimpse of hope, and this is exactly what the Palestinian people would like to feel, especially at this specific moment. The shift in Australian foreign policy also comes days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced an expansion of his country's military offensive in Gaza. Mr Netanyahu has rejected international condemnation of plans to seize control of Gaza City, displacing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the process. He insisted it was the way to end the war with Hamas quickly, and claimed Arab nations — not the PA — could take over civil governance of the strip in the post-Hamas era. "Israel can say whatever it wants, because, frankly, Israel doesn't want to see anybody in the Gaza Strip," Dr Aghabekian said. "But the only entity that can shoulder that responsibility is the Palestinian Authority, and it can be supported by the Arab, Islamic, and the world at large in terms of the assistance, the security assistance, the technical assistance, the funding that is needed."
