Australia Supports UN Resolution Demanding Israel End ‘Unlawful’ Presence in Palestine

The move has been criticised by the federal opposition who say it alienates key allies Israel and the United States.

A screen show the vote results from the resolution "Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine" at the General Assembly 46th plenary meeting on December 3, 2024, at UN headquarters in New York City. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images

The Australian Labor government has broken from the United States to back a U.N. resolution calling for Israel to end its “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Australia joined 157 countries backing the resolution, with eight countries voting against it, including the United States, Israel, and Milei-led Argentina.

The resolution (pdf) calls for Israel to “bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible” while recognising the “inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state.”

It also reaffirmed a commitment to a “two-state solution of Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 borders.”

The United States, Israel, and Milei-led Argentina were among eight nations that voted against the motion, while seven countries including the Ukraine abstained.

The resolution also demanded that Israel immediately cease “all new settlement activities and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

The resolution called for the timely convening of an international conference in Moscow, for the “advancement and acceleration of the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement.”

The Labor government’s position has been criticised by Australia’s federal opposition, who say it sends the “wrong signals” to allies.

Opposition Says Position Will Please Terrorists

Outgoing Shadow Foreign Affairs Ministers Simon Birmingham and Claire Chandler accused Labor of abandoning its key allies, including Israel.

“Overnight, Labor has changed longstanding Australians positions at the United Nations in votes that will not protect a single civilian in the Middle East, prevent further terrorist attacks or release a single hostage still held by Hamas,” the shadows said in a statement.

“These changed positions will only please terrorists and autocratic states who initiated the barbaric attacks of 7 October 2023. They send completely the wrong signals.”

Birmingham said that despite promising before the election there would be no difference between the major parties on Israel-related issues, the Albanese government has “dropped or changed numerous Australian positions.”

“Unlike Labor, the Coalition will continue to stand by our democratic friend and partner Israel, their right to self-defence, and against terrorists who no country could tolerate living alongside.”

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Peter Dutton told reporters in Sydney, “There was a lot of anger, understandably with the way in which the government has sold out the Jewish community.”

“When you ask yourself, why would the government, why would the prime minister sacrifice his credibility ... it’s for votes.”

Domestically, the Labor government is trying to balance the interests of its left-wing factions who demand strong support for Palestine, while at the same time, maintain a firm position on the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Further, key Labor electorates in western Sydney also comprise a large population of voters with Middle-Eastern backgrounds.

2 State Solution the ‘Only Hope’: Australian Ambassador

Australian Ambassador to the United Nations James Larson told the U.N. General Assembly that Australia had returned to its 2001 position.

He said Australia’s vote reflected its determination that the international community “again work together to build momentum towards this goal” of a two-state solution.

“To that end, we welcome the resolutions confirmation that a high level international conference be convened in 2025, aimed at the implementation of a two state solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East,” he said.

“Because a two-state solution remains the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence, the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s spokesman told the ABC before the vote that “on our own, Australia has few ways to move the dial in the Middle East.”

“We don’t always get everything we want, but if, on balance, we believe the resolution will contribute to peace and a two-state solution, we will vote for it,” the spokesman said.

Jewish Association Says Arab Groups Do Not Want This

The Australian Jewish Association has accused the government of rewarding “jihadist terrorism” with its vote for the “extreme” resolution.

“In the Middle East, neither the Jews nor the Arabs want this, albeit for completely different reasons: Jews, even the secular left, oppose the creation of a ‘giant Gaza’ type terror entity,” the AJA said.

“Arab Palestinians in the vast majority don’t want to live along side Israel but want Israel gone. It’s a naive formula for disaster.”

However, U.N. General Assembly President Philémon Yang called a two-state solution the “only path to lasting peace.”

“After more than a year of war and suffering, the realisation of this vision is more urgent than ever before,” he said.

“It ensures the right of Palestinians to self-determination while safeguarding Israel’s long-term security. In this way, it offers both peoples the chance to live with equal rights and human dignity.”