Israeli Ambassador reacts to Palestine announcement

“By recognising a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap, and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel’s security, derails hostage negotiations, and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence,” Israeli Ambassador Amir Maimon said on Monday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced earlier on Monday that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

“This is an opportunity to deliver self determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all,” Albanese said.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said “we can’t keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt”.

“We made clear we would recognise Palestine when it would best contribute momentum to peace,” Wong said. “We know that two states is the key. It is the key to a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”

In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Maimon noted that “only days ago, Prime Minister Albanese set clear conditions for recognising a Palestinian state, renouncing violence, freeing hostages, and establishing credible, accountable governance”.

“Today, however, the Australian Government has abandoned those conditions and proceeded with recognition for symbolic reasons rather than genuine progress toward peace,” Maimon said.

“Let us be clear: this decision will not change the reality on the ground. Peace is not achieved through declarations; it is achieved when those who have chosen terror abandon it and when violence and incitement end. Rewarding those who use terror as a political tool sends the dangerous message that violence brings political gains.

“By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation, while weakening the cause of those working to end violence and achieve genuine, lasting peace.”

In a joint statement, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Shadow Foreign Minister Michaelia Cash said the decision puts Australia at odds with the United States, does not make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid, support the release of hostages or put an end to Hamas.

“Until today it was a bipartisan position that there should be no recognition of a Palestinian state with Hamas still in control of Gaza. Despite his words today the reality is Anthony Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza,” they said.

“Recognising a Palestinian state prior to a return of the hostages and defeat of Hamas, as the Government has today, risks delivering Hamas one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism of October 7.”

Responding to the announcement on Monday, Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion, who with other ECAJ representatives met with Albanese in Canberra on July 31, called it a “betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages” and said “Israel will feel wronged and abandoned by a longstanding ally”.

“The government has departed from decades of bipartisan consensus which has envisaged Palestinian statehood and recognition as part of a comprehensive peace agreement,” he said.

“It leaves Hamas armed and in control of territory, and in a position to regroup and rearm, thereby creating the conditions for the next war rather than a comprehensive peace,” Aghion said.

“The Palestinian Authority will feel that a huge diplomatic prize has been dropped in its lap, despite its consistent failures to reform, democratise and agree to peaceful coexistence alongside a Jewish state. Hamas and other Islamist groups will see that barbarity on a grand scale can lead to desired political transformation.”

Endorsing the ECAJ statement, National Council of Jewish Women Australia president Lynda Ben-Menashe questioned what Australia recognising a Palestinian state does “for innocents in Palestine, Israel and the people connected to them by blood and tears in Australia”.

“Prime Minister Albanese said Australians wanted two things: an end to the killing and no import of the conflict to our streets. That is surely true, but Australia enjoying a Western-saviour moment on the UN stage next month will not bring peace or security to anyone,” Ben-Menashe said. “Not to Palestinians or Israelis, and not to Australians at home, either.

“Instead of recognising Palestine, our government should recognise that it has a war on our streets between the enemies of Jews, women and civilisation and the liberal democratic values which made us Australia – and do more to win that war. As Jewish women who no longer feel nor are safe in our cities, that is our message to Mr Albanese and Ms Wong.”

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said, “The Government points to non-binding commitments from the Palestinian Authority, which lacks the capacity to implement them. Advancing recognition without demonstrable change will embolden Hamas and weaken efforts to build accountable institutions.

“Recognition without agreed borders, a single governing authority, or a demonstrated capacity for peaceful coexistence does not advance peace. It departs from Australia’s bipartisan position and risks delaying, rather than resolving, the conflict,” he added, “Premature recognition also forfeits critical leverage needed to secure the reforms any viable Palestinian state requires.”

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) said in a statement that it was a “misguided and counter-productive decision”.

“It sets back the positive possibility of a peaceful, viable, negotiated Palestinian state being established alongside Israel. Regardless of the Government’s intentions, recognition will be seen by both Israelis and Palestinians as a reward for Palestinian terrorism and as punishment for Israel, despite the fact that Israel has always been much more forward-leaning on peace than the Palestinians,” AIJAC said.

“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.”

Australian Jewish Association (AJA) CEO Robert Gregory said the announcement is “more than a betrayal of a friend”.

“It is a reckless attack on the Jewish people in Australia and abroad,” he said. “The decision will do nothing to advance peace in the Middle East since the Albanese Government has no influence there.

“It is Australian Jews who bear the brunt of Labor’s actions, which have contributed to firebombing of synagogues and attacks on Jews. Increasing numbers are discussing plans to leave.”