Australia said it would recognize Palestine statehood during the United Nations General Assembly’s annual session in September — echoing similar announcements by France, Britain and Canada, and adding to international pressure on Israel to bring the war in Gaza to a negotiated end.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia said on Monday that the move was “part of a coordinated global effort building momentum for a two-state solution.”
He said Australia’s recognition would be “predicated” on “detailed and significant” commitments he had received from the Palestinian Authority’s leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to demilitarize, hold general elections and ensure that Hamas plays no role in a future Palestinian state.
“The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears,” Mr. Albanese said in a televised news conference.
The announcement came hours after Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, defended plans for a new offensive in Gaza and denounced the countries’ moves toward recognizing Palestine as “shameful,” saying they would not change Israel’s position.
Last month, France became the first major Western power to say that it would recognize Palestinian statehood. The surprise declaration by President Emmanuel Macron came amid increasing global alarm over the abject humanitarian crisis in Gaza and catastrophic starvation. France’s decision was followed in short order by Britain, then Canada.
In Australia earlier this month, an estimated 100,000 protesters filled Sydney Harbour Bridge, calling for an end to the war and criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said last week that “the reason for urgency” was because “there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognize if the world does not act.”
Ms. Wong said on Monday that she had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and informed him of Australia’s intensions as a diplomatic courtesy. She did not say how the U.S. official reacted, but Mr. Rubio has criticized Mr. Macron’s announcement as “reckless,” saying it “only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace.”
Mr. Albanese said he reached the decision after discussions in recent weeks with Mr. Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, as well as the leaders of Japan and New Zealand. New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, said in a statement Monday that the country was also weighing recognizing Palestinian statehood.
In his announcement Monday, Mr. Albanese acknowledged that there was a history of failures in the question of statehood for Palestine, but said there was a “moment of opportunity” that the international community must seize.
“The risk of trying is nothing compared to the danger of letting this moment pass us by,” he said. “The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives.”
Victoria Kim is the Australia correspondent for The New York Times, based in Sydney, covering Australia, New Zealand and the broader Pacific region.
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