Jewish roof bodies urge governments to reconsider Palestinian recognition

In an unprecedented joint statement, the roof bodies of Jewish communities in Australia, the UK, and Canada have urged their respective governments to reconsider recognising a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later this month.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (Canada) expressed grave concerns that the announced recognitions would be seen by Hamas as “a reward for its violence and rejectionism towards Israel”.

The organisations said the announcements had “lessened rather than maximised pressure for the hostages’ release and for Hamas to disarm”.

“Indeed, Hamas has welcomed our governments’ declarations of an intention to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN later this month as the ‘fruits of October 7’,” the joint statement said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced in August that Australia would recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly, following similar proclamations from France, the UK and Canada.