Australia Sways Away From Allies, Including US, by Backing UN Palestine Vote

Students at University of California–Irvine protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict in Irvine, Calif., on May 2, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Australia has voted in favour of a U.N. resolution that pushes for Palestine to be granted full membership to the United Nations.

This decision puts Australia at odds with allies the United States and Israel, who voted against the U.N. General Assembly motion on May 10.

The U.N. resolution (pdf) did not mention Hamas or hostages and stressed that Palestine is fully qualified for membership of the United Nations.

However, the vote does not provide Palestinian with U.N. membership because that would require the support of the 15-member U.N. Security Council.

Australia’s decision to vote yes also differed from abstainers, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Ukraine, Italy,  Finland, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Fiji, and Vanuatu.

However, the resolution received support from 143 nations, including New Zealand, China,  Russia, Korea, France, Norway, Japan, Poland, Iceland, Qatar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Columbia, Chile, Brazil, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Costa Rica.

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The motion also expressed regret that the United States exercised its vetoing power at the U.N. security council on April 18, blocking Palestine’s bid to become a member of the United Nations.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood described the resolution as “unproductive” and indicated direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority is the best way to achieve Palestinian statehood.

“It remains the U.S. view that the most expeditious path toward statehood and U.N. membership for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority,” he said at the assembly.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended Australia’s decision, explaining the resolution was considered on its merits and overarching priority of contributing to a two-state solution.

“Hamas does not want two states. Hamas is a terrorist organisation dedicated to the destruction of Israel and of the Jewish people. That is why they are condemned, and they must be condemned. This is a resolution that looks to seeking two states to enable security for both peoples,” Ms. Wong said.

However, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham said Labor’s support for the resolution sends a message that “violence and terrorism gets results ahead of negotiation and diplomacy.”

“The resolution the Albanese government supported doesn’t mention Hamas, let alone call for their surrender. It also doesn’t call for the release of hostages held by Hamas and doesn’t make respect for Israel’s right to exist a precondition of action,” he said.

What Does the Resolution Mean?

The resolution backed by Australia provides Palestine with “rights and privileges” at the U.N. general assembly.

These rights include raising procedural motions, putting proposals to a vote, making statements, and being seated among member states in alphabetical order.

The motion stressed the “state of Palestine is fully qualified for membership in the United Nations in accordance with article 4 of the charter.”

The resolution also reaffirms support for lasting peace in the Middle East and a two-state solution of Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognised borders.

Resolution Deeply Regrets US Blocking Palestine Push

The U.N. resolution backed by 143 nations including Australia expressed “deep regret and concern” that one negative vote at the U.N. Security Council prevented Palestine from being recommended for membership in the United Nations.

The UK and Switzerland abstained from the vote.

In order to pass the security council, a resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes from the five permanent members—the United States, China, France, the Russian Federation, and the UK.

Pathway to Two-State Solution Matters: Birmingham

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham had called for the government to oppose the U.N. resolution ahead of the vote.

He had raised concerns that supporting a vote like this would be the “world’s worst signal” to send out.

Mr. Birmingham said Australia’s support represents a change in position from the Albanese government and could create the wrong incentives for Hamas, which would further harm “prospects for long term peace.”

“There is a real risk that Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others who deny Israel the right to exist take heart from this resolution,” he said in a media release.

The shadow foreign minister said the pathway to a two-state solution matters and can only be possible with security and respect by each party and the right for the other to exist.

“Yet this resolution reads as though the Hamas attacks of Oct. 7, deliberately slaughtering more Jews than on any single day since the Holocaust, never happened,” he said.

“Alongside the horrific problem of Hamas terrorists still active in Gaza, this resolution leaves unresolved the question of borders between Israel and a future Palestinian state, rights of return for Palestinians, governance reform of the Palestinian Authority, and future security undertakings between the two states.”

Mr. Birmingham argued that by advancing the wishes of terrorists while securing nothing in return, the vote has reduced the incentive for parties to negotiate and elevated the risk of future attacks.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott also expressed dismay that Australia has broken “eight decades of bi-partisanship” to back the U.N. motion without first renouncing terror and accepting Israel’s right to exist behind security borders.

Hamas Has No Place in Future Governance of Gaza: Wong

Amid Australia supporting the United Nations motion, Ms. Wong said Australia is adding its voice to the efforts of the international community to broker peace.

She said the resolution looks at seeking two states that enables long term security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

“This resolution enables expanded Palestinian participation in the U.N. And in doing this, the international community is setting out its expectations that parties resume negotiations for tangible progress,” Ms. Wong told reporters.

Ms. Wong reiterated that Australia has “long believed” that a two-state solution provides the only hope for achieving lasting peace in the Middle East.

She said Hamas has no place in the future governance of Gaza, but highlighted the role for the Palestinian Authority.

“We want to see a Palestinian Authority that has undertaken the necessary reforms for it to take up its responsibilities over a unified West Bank in Gaza,” Ms. Wong said.

“We want to see a Palestinian governing authority that is committed to peace, that disavows violence and is ready to engage in a meaningful political process.”