Anthony Albanese calls Mahmoud Abbas
According to a readout of the phone call, Albanese 'reinforced Australia's commitment to a two-state solution because a just and lasting peace depends upon it'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he reiterated Australia’s call for the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, as well as a “permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages”.
According to a readout of the phone call, Prime Minister Albanese also “reinforced Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution because a just and lasting peace depends upon it”.
President Abbas reportedly thanked Prime Minister Albanese for Australia’s economic and humanitarian support and the two leaders, who discussed “deepening cooperation”, also agreed to meet on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.
The United Kingdom, Canada and France have set the United Nations meeting in New York to recognise Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC radio she had said for a year Australia doing the same was a matter of “when, not if”.
“There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don’t move to create that pathway to a two-state solution,” she said.
“It has been my long-held position that there will be no peace and security for the people of Israel unless we resolve to a Palestinian state.
Albanese has stressed that Hamas could have no role in a future Palestinian state and he is also seeking a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Wong confirmed the talk has not happened yet.
“I’m sure if he does, the Prime Minister will put the view that he has put publicly, and the view of so many Australians, that Australia wants to see a ceasefire,” she said. “Australia wants to see the hostages released, Australia wants aid to flow.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin said Wong should acknowledge that Israel accepted the internationally brokered ceasefire that would have seen the unfettered flow of aid, the phased return of hostages and a pathway to a permanent end to the war.
“It is unsatisfactory for this material fact to be omitted, giving the false impression that Israel is the barrier to the ceasefire and not Hamas,” Ryvchin said.