Australia officially recognises state of Palestine

Australia’s recognition of the State of Palestine “rewards the very actors who have worked to destroy peace efforts”, Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) president, Jeremy Leibler said on Sunday night.

As expected, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong made the recognition announcement at the United Nations in New York on Sunday.

“Effective today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognises the independent and sovereign State of Palestine,” they said.

They were joined by the United Kingdom and Canada, with France expected to follow suit this week.

Albanese and Wong said the recognition, “Is part of a co-ordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution.

“The international community has set out clear requirements for the Palestinian Authority. The President of the Palestinian Authority has restated its recognition of Israel’s right to exist, and given direct undertakings to Australia, including commitments to hold democratic elections and enact significant reform to finance, governance and education.

“Australia will continue to work with our international partners to help build on today’s act of recognition and to bring the Middle East closer to the lasting peace and security that is the hope, and the right, of all humanity.”

But Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said, “Far from creating momentum towards a two-state peace, recognition of a Palestinian State in these circumstances will set the process back.

“Hamas and the other terrorist groups have already hailed the move as a reward for their violence and rejectionism towards Israel, the ‘fruits’ of the atrocities it committed in Israel on October 7. They will now have less incentive, not more, to release the hostages and disarm.”

He noted that Australia’s past practice had been to recognise new states after their governments have demonstrated a capacity to control their territory and deliver on their international commitments.

“There is no Palestinian entity that comes close to meeting these criteria,” he said.

Shadow Attorney-General Julian Leeser said, “Recognising a Palestinian State on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, while the hostages remain unaccounted for, and while so many Palestinian actors don’t recognise Israel’s right to exist, is yet another slap in the face for Australia’s Jewish community by Albanese and Wong.”

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said in a statement, “The Palestinians’ chosen path since 2014 – a stubborn refusal to even negotiate, encouraging, rewarding, and celebrating violence, and indoctrinating its children to hate Israel – will be strengthened by the Government’s morally compromised decision.

“Recognition by Western countries telegraphs to Hamas that its rejection of multiple ceasefire proposals over the past 12 months were the correct decision, thereby ensuring it will continue rejecting them. This further endangers the lives of the Israeli hostages still held in Hamas’s tunnels.”

Zionist Federation of Australia (ZFA) president, Jeremy Leibler, said recognising a Palestinian state while 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity is “unconscionable”.

ZFA CEO Alon Cassuto said, “If Australia wants to help, it should support Palestinians to reform and build their institutions, the foundations of any viable Palestinian state. That is how we should contribute to real peace, not by emboldening terrorists through empty symbolism.”

Labor Friends of Israel also took exception to the decision. “While we do not doubt the sincerity of the government’s intentions and
share its desire to see an end to the tragic conflict in Gaza, we disagree
with the decision to recognise a Palestinian state at this point,” the group said. “Recognition of a Palestinian state outside of a meaningful peace process will change nothing on the ground and surrenders an important diplomatic lever that could have been used to promote a peaceful resolution.

“The Palestinian Authority must be closely monitored to ensure it honours its undertakings to Australia, including commitments to hold democratic
elections and implement significant reforms in finance, governance, and
education. The PA must end the financial rewards for terrorist acts and
recognise Israel’s right to exist in secure and safe borders. Further, should
the PA fail to meet these important commitments, Australia should
withdraw recognition.”

The Israel Foreign Ministry said it “categorically rejects the one-sided declaration of the recognition of a Palestinian state”.

“The declaration not only rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by a terror organisation that is calling and acting for the annihilation of Israel, but also solidifies the support Hamas enjoys,” it said.

“This move goes against all logic of negotiation and reaching a compromise between two sides, and it will push the desired peace further away.

“Political gestures aimed at a domestic voting audience only harm the Middle East and are not helpful.”

In response to the announcements, a US State Department spokesperson said on condition of anonymity, according to AFP, “Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region that is only possible free from Hamas.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message, “I have a clear message to those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7 — you are handing a huge reward to terror.

“The response to the recent attempt to force a terrorist state upon us in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States.”

Hamas, which publicly executed three men it accused of collaborating with Israel at around the same time as Australia announced its recognition, called the recognition “an important step” on its Telegram channel, according to reports.

Twenty five US Republican politicians had earlier sent a letter to Albanese, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron urging them to “stand with Israel and the values of freedom and democracy, rather than reward bad actors”.

“This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace. It not only disregards the Palestinian Authority’s failure to abide by the commitments of past agreements, but it also emboldens further violence,” they said.

“Furthermore, unilateral recognition undermines the Oslo Accords and decades of diplomatic progress. Recognition outside of a negotiated settlement will encourage terrorism, destabilise the region, and harm prospects for lasting peace.

“This policy will also directly affect your countries. Jewish communities in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and other nations, including those of your signatories, have experienced unprecedented harassment and attacks amid growing antisemitism. Progressed recognition would send a dangerous signal to terrorists and their supporters that violence yields results.”