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.”

The ECAJ delegation also discussed rising antisemitism with the Prime Minister, with Aghion welcoming continued government support for addressing the crisis.

“Much of our discussion focussed on the scourge of antisemitism in Australia. We are heartened by the Government’s continuing support for the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal AO, and the IHRA working definition,” he said.

“The Special Envoy’s action plan is under active consideration. Recent antisemitic incidents only underline the persistence of the problem of antisemitism in Australia, and the Prime Minister confirmed that he fully understands the urgency of the need to address it. Antisemitism is not a problem that can be solved by Government alone. It requires a whole-of-society response. We have assured the Government that they have the full cooperation of the Australian Jewish community.”

The meeting – one of many over two days the ECAJ held with ministers, shadow ministers, and other Members of Parliament – came as senior government figures indicate Albanese wants to recognise Palestine during this term, potentially as early as September when he addresses the UN General Assembly in New York.

Albanese has faced mounting internal pressure following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s pledge to recognise Palestine by September if hostilities continue in Gaza, and French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement he would do so at the UN General Assembly.

However, Albanese has maintained key conditions must be met, including Hamas having no future role in a Palestinian state.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed a joint statement on Wednesday with 14 other countries reiterating Australia’s “unwavering” commitment to a two-state solution and recognising Palestinian statehood “as an essential step” towards that goal.

The statement called for Gaza to be unified with the West Bank under Palestinian Authority control and backed commitments including hostage liberation, Hamas disarmament, ending “pay-to-slay” rewards for terrorists, and creating a demilitarised Palestinian state.

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said the Coalition had “serious concerns” over growing momentum towards recognition, arguing the government “should not reward Hamas” while it remained in control of Gaza.

“The question of recognising Palestinian statehood should come at the end of the peace negotiation process not at the start or during it,” Cash said.

The diplomatic moves coincided with Arab and Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey signing a UN declaration condemning Hamas’s October 7 attack and calling for the terror group to disarm and release hostages.