Renewed recognition push

Following the government’s resounding election victory, Labor Friends of Palestine has wasted no time calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to recognise a Palestinian state.

In a letter last Friday claiming to be “on behalf of rank-and-file Labor members”, the group called on the government to “join the overwhelming majority of the international community in recognising Palestinian statehood” at a UN conference in June.

The letter also called for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza” without mentioning the 58 hostages still in captivity. It did not mention Hamas at all.

“As usual, those claiming to support Palestinian rights ignore the role Hamas plays in devastating Gaza and denying its people the right to live in peace and a state of their own,” Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said.

“Labor’s re-election provides it with a unique opportunity to reaffirm Australia’s longstanding bipartisan position, promoting a two-state outcome through negotiations. This requires calling on and pressuring Hamas to disarm, while urging the Palestinian Authority to return to the direct negotiations it walked away from 11 years ago.”