Wong calls for Palestinian state at the UN
Wong condemned Hamas's terrorism and called for the release of hostages, but also criticised Israel's military response in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong called for a “clear timeline” to recognise a Palestinian state outside of a negotiated peace process during her speech to the UN General Assembly on September 27.
“Australia no longer sees Palestinian recognition as the destination of a peace process, but a contribution of momentum towards peace. Australia wants to engage on new ways to build momentum, including the role of the Security Council in setting a pathway for two-states, with a clear timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood,” she said.
Wong condemned Hamas’s terrorism and called for the release of hostages, but also criticised Israel’s military response in Gaza.
“Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas,” she said.
“War has rules. Every country in this room must abide by them. Even when confronting terrorists.”
Regarding the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, Wong called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
“Lebanon cannot become the next Gaza,” she remarked.
Resolution 1701 led to a ceasefire in the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war and called for the disarmament of Hezbollah which was never fully implemented. Wong did not mention the reason for Israel’s military response – that Hezbollah has carried out more than 8000 rocket attacks on Israel, leading to the evacuation of Israel’s North and at least 48 deaths.
Wong’s speech was heavily criticised by Jewish communal leaders.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said her call for a timeline for a Palestinian state was “a dangerous and ill-conceived endeavour … that will bring even greater chaos to a chaotic region”.
“What exactly does the government intend to recognise as a sovereign and independent state?” he asked.
“A terror enclave atop a labyrinth of tunnels where over 100 Israelis are held hostage? Or the West Bank which has no democratic institutions?
“If Australia colludes to create a failed state of Palestine it will embolden rogue actors and terror groups and demonstrate that October 7 level barbarism is the ticket to political victory.”
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said Wong’s speech “reflects the short-sighted and morally questionable slant on the Middle East that has been increasingly adopted by the Foreign Minister”.
“Recognising a Palestinian state prior to a settlement negotiated between the two parties will do nothing to advance peace, but in fact will do precisely the opposite,” he said.
“The predominant obstacle to peace has been Palestinian intransigence and refusal to negotiate in good faith and genuinely accept Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
“It would simply serve as a demonstration that terrorism and rejectionism is the way to advance the Palestinian cause.”
On Wong’s critique of Israel’s conduct in Gaza and Lebanon, Rubenstein commented, “Israel is fighting groups proscribed as terrorists in this country who embed themselves among their civilian populations, and Israel is doing so in accordance with the laws of war.
“It’s well past time our government recognised that, and gave its moral and political support to our fellow democracy.”
President of the Zionist Federation of Australia Jeremy Leibler commented, “As we approach the first anniversary of the 7 October attacks, Israel faces a war on two fronts and more than 100 hostages remain in the dungeons of Gaza. We are deeply disappointed that the Government has drifted from the principled position adopted immediately after 7 October that Australia stands with Israel and its right to defend itself.
“At this time, Australia and the international community should be placing pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages, and on Hizbullah to stop firing rockets into Israel. While we agree that a negotiated two state solution is the only viable option for Israelis and Palestinians, this cannot be achieved until Hamas has been removed from power and the corrupt Palestinian Authority is reformed. The Government itself agrees with this position, yet at the same time, calls for recognition of a Palestinian State to be accelerated; this position seems divorced from the reality on the ground.”
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