Australia’s Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has announced a potential shift in the country’s stance towards recognizing a Palestinian state, aligning with global efforts towards achieving a two-state solution to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
Echoing the sentiments of Britain’s Foreign Minister, David Cameron, who supported the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations to solidify the two-state solution, Wong emphasized the importance of international discussions on Palestinian statehood in advancing towards this goal.
During her address at the Australian National University, Wong highlighted that the pursuit of a two-state solution remains the only viable path to ending the cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine.
The concept of a two-state solution, which envisions independent Israeli and Palestinian states coexisting peacefully, has been a cornerstone of international peace initiatives for decades.
However, progress has been hampered, with the last decade seeing a stall in negotiations, exacerbated by the recent conflict in Gaza involving Israel and Hamas.
Wong made it clear that Hamas, the governing body of Gaza, would not have a role in the envisioned Palestinian state. This statement comes as the Palestinian Authority seeks the United Nations (UN) Security Council’s reassessment of its 2011 application for full UN membership.
Currently, Palestine holds the status of a non-member observer state at the UN, a position shared with the Holy See.
Israel has recently formalized its objection to what it terms the “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state, insisting on direct negotiations as the only route to any agreement.
Meanwhile, Spain and other Western nations are advocating for the recognition of Palestinian statehood within the European Union.
Wong also addressed criticisms suggesting that recognizing a Palestinian state could be seen as rewarding hostility, arguing instead that Israel’s long-term security is intertwined with the acceptance and recognition by its regional neighbours.
This perspective underscores the belief that sustainable security for Israel is contingent upon the successful establishment of a two-state solution.
