Jewish leaders meet Albanese as Palestine recognition pressure mounts

Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion, co-CEO Peter Wertheim and head of legal Simone Abel met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra yesterday as pressure mounts on the government to follow Britain and France in recognising Palestinian statehood.

The meeting came as Albanese declared he sees a “moment of opportunity” to bring peace to the Middle East, while his government lays groundwork to formally recognise a Palestinian state during this parliamentary term.

Aghion said the Prime Minister had reassured Jewish leaders that recognition was not imminent, despite growing pressure from within Labor ranks.

“The Prime Minister reiterated what he has said publicly about the recognition of a Palestinian state. It is on the Government’s agenda, but it is not imminent,” Aghion said.

“We also think that the Government has a realistic understanding that Palestinian statehood requires a recognition of Israel’s permanence as a Jewish state, a commitment to peaceful coexistence, demilitarisation and democratic reform, in addition to the complete disarming of Hamas and the immediate release of all remaining hostages, living and dead.”