Albanese Urged to 'Rethink Strategy' and Acknowledge Palestinian State Following UK's Lead

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing growing pressure from his backbench to build on “moral momentum” and recognise a Palestinian state.

Hardening its resolve in recent days, the Albanese government has stated its intention to recognise Palestinian statehood but has laid out several preconditions, including the demilitarisation of Hamas, before committing.

Former cabinet minister Ed Husic has urged the government to “reconsider its approach” given the evolving hunger crisis.

“It’s understandable that we have sought to see the satisfaction of key conditions prior to that occurring, but moral momentum cannot be ignored,” he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.

“That momentum is significant in the moment, and it requires of us a reconsideration of our approach”.

While Husic said he was not speaking on behalf of his colleagues, he said there was a “deep feeling” across the backbench and within caucus to recognise a Palestinian state.

Facing questions about the timeline, Albanese reiterated his government would announce the move when it would make maximum impact and “advance the objective of the creation of two states”.

“I’ve said for a long time, my entire political life, I said I support two states, the right of Israel to exist within secure borders and the right of Palestinians to have their legitimate aspirations for their own state realised,” he said on Wednesday morning.

“That is my objective. Not making a statement, not winning a political point, but achieving that.”

Frontbencher Anika Wells stressed that the government would recognise a Palestinian state, and it was a question of “when, not if”, as long as other conditions are met.

“It is a question of when not if. There is things to work through. We need Hamas to release the hostages and we need to secure aid as quickly as possible. Everybody is working on that,” Wells told ABC News Breakfast.

Labor MP Julian Hill also said: “[It’s] a question of when, not if, to recognise the state of Palestine”.

“The government will determine its position based on our conception of Australia’s national interest, working with like-minded countries around the world, and the PM is in dialogue.”

Liberal Senator James Paterson labelled the move “premature” and “counterproductive” to achieving a two-state solution, arguing Hamas needed to be dismantled first.

“If the Australian government was to make a similar move, I wouldn’t agree with it, because it would be a significant departure from decades of bipartisan foreign policy in this country,” he told ABC’s RN on Wednesday.

Greens label government’s new statement ‘meaningless’

The government has signed a new joint statement of 15 foreign minister, expressing their “unwavering commitment” to a two-state solution.

“We, Ministers of Foreign Affairs… express the willingness or the positive consideration of our countries to recognise the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-State solution, and invite all countries that have not done so to join this call,” the statement, signed by countries including France, Canada and New Zealand, reads.

Greens senator David Shoebridge argued that the government should follow Labor’s policy platform and recognise a Palestinian state. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

Greens foreign affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge labelled the statement a “distraction” from meaningful progress on the dire situation in Gaza.

“This is a near-meaningless statement that doesn’t seem to take Australia’s position one step closer to recognising Palestine,” he told SBS News.

“Every pressure needs to be applied on Israel to end the bombing, end the killing, end the mass starvation of the people of Gaza and statements like this, they will simply get us no further and no closer to that ultimate goal of a free Palestine.”