Palestinian Statehood Recognition ‘Foolish and Reckless’: Liberal Senator

This comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the international community is considering Palestinian statehood to build momentum towards a 2-state solution.

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, on Jan. 1, 2024. Amir Cohen/Reuters

Australian Liberal Senator Dave Sharma claims the Labor government’s proposal to recognise a Palestinian state is “foolish” and “reckless.”

This comes after Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the international community is considering Palestinian statehood to build momentum towards a two-state solution.

However, Mr. Sharma said far from advancing the cause of peace, it would make a durable two-state solution “almost impossible.”

“The Palestinians would get statehood without having to recognise Israel in return,” he said in a post to Instagram.

The Senator, Australia’s former ambassador to Israel, also raised concerns that granting Palestinian statehood would be a reward for Hamas.

“It would also reward Hamas and their fellow rejectionists, encouraging them to continue fighting, rather than releasing the hostages, agreeing to a ceasefire, and bringing this conflict to a close,” he said.

“Labor’s proposal for unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood is both foolish and reckless.”

The Senator raised concerns the Albanese government thinks the only outlet for their diplomacy is to continue to criticise and put pressure on Israel.

“This ignores the fact that it takes two sides to realise peace, that Israel was the party that came under attack, and that Hamas’ intransigence in continuing to hostages—a clear war crime—is what is prolonging this conflict,” Mr. Sharma said.

‘Pathway Out of the Endless Cycle of Violence’: Wong

In a speech at the Australian National University on April 9, Ms. Wong pushed for recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

“We need to build the pathway out of the endless cycle of violence. We need to build the pathway to a peace that is enduring, and just,” Ms. Wong said.

“Because the simple truth is that a secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians will only come with a two-state solution. Recognition of each other’s right to exist. A Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel.”

Ms. Wong continued, saying it has been 30 years since the Oslo Accords that put Palestinian statehood at the end of a process.

“So the international community is now considering the question of Palestinian statehood as a way of building momentum towards a two-state solution,” Ms. Wong said.

“As British Foreign Secretary Cameron has said, the UK ‘will look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations.’ He said this could make the two-state solution ‘irreversible.’”

In response, Mr. Dutton said until Hamas is defeated, a two-state solution was not conceivable because Hamas will always pose an existential threat to Israel.

He said this makes the foreign minister’s remarks “utterly illogical, ill-timed, and inappropriate.”

“For a crass domestic political win, Penny Wong has irreparably damaged our relations with our ally Israel,” Mr. Dutton said at the Tom Hughes Oration in Sydney.

“An ally who has shared intelligence with us and thwarted terrorist attacks against our own interests, including against members of the Australian Defence Force.”

Mr. Dutton said before the 2022 election, Mr. Albanese had promised a Labor government would hold a balance position on the Israel-Palestinian issue and not sway away from the Coalition’s approach.

“Since the election, however, the Albanese government’s foreign policy positions have exposed a clear prejudice towards Israel.”

‘Nothing New’: Albanese

However, in response, Mr. Albanese said it was just more “negativity and more angry rhetoric from Peter Dutton” and suggested there was wider support internationally for a Palestinian state.

Mr. Albanese said there was nothing new about his government supporting a two-state solution and that it was consistent with what the government said from the start.

He claimed international leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, “know that we need a long term solution to the conflict in the Middle East.”

“It seems to me that that is a pretty sensible proposition going forward and that is precisely what Penny Wong has envisaged. Just what David Cameron spoke about weeks ago. It’s what a range of leaders around the world have said,” Mr. Albanese said.

“That that solution has to involve two states, one that recognises Israel’s right to exist within secure borders, one that sees Israel recognised by its neighbours in the Middle East and that gives it that security as well, and justice for Palestinians and self-determination that does not involve any role whatsoever for a terrorist organisation like Hamas,” Mr. Albanese said.

Israel was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and leading to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring “we are at war.” Since then, more than 33,000 people have been killed in Gaza.