Senator Nita Green – Estimates questions regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state

February 15, 2024

I want to continue with some of these questions, but more broadly on the Middle East. Minister, you referred to this in earlier answers. We’ve seen comments from key world leaders, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, about the need for irreversible progress towards the recognition of an independent state of Palestine. I thought I would I invite you to speak to those comments and how that issue of statehood is relevant to a pathway out of this current conflict.

Senator GREEN: I want to continue with some of these questions, but more broadly on the Middle East. Minister, you referred to this in earlier answers. We’ve seen comments from key world leaders, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, about the need for irreversible progress towards the recognition of an independent state of Palestine. I thought I would I invite you to speak to those comments and how that issue of statehood is relevant to a pathway out of this current conflict.

Senator Wong: Firstly, I will make a general proposition arising out of my visit to the region. I have always held the view that a two-state solution is necessary, not only for the Palestinian people but also for the Israeli people, and for the Israeli state to have the security to which it is entitled and which it seeks. But I would say that my view was even further affirmed by my visit: that we will not see either Israel have the security that it is entitled to nor the Palestinian people fulfil their aspirations for peace and security unless there is a two-state solution. The comments you raise from both Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Cameron I think go to the point about the role that recognition might play in a peace process. Obviously, there are 130-odd countries that already recognise Palestine, and those of us that don’t have generally seen recognition as the end of a process.

I think what Foreign Secretary Cameron is raising is considering what role recognition might play in bringing forward or locking in progress towards a two-state solution. He talked about the need to ‘give the people of the West Bank and Gaza the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future’ and that ‘it needs to be irreversible’. He talked about giving impact to a peace process by confirming the UK’s commitment to a sovereign, viable Palestinian state and the UK’s clear intention to grant it recognition.

The comments by Secretary Blinken reference the first point I was making, which is the importance of an independent state of Palestine for the overall security of the region, particularly Israel. Israel’s goal, a legitimate goal of normalising relations with countries of the region, won’t be fully realised without a Palestinian state. We’ve seen that in comments from the Saudis, for example. That’s the context of the discussion, which really is about parties trying to consider how we can collectively give impetus towards that pathway to peace.

Senator GREEN: That’s a useful context. What does that mean for Australia’s position?

Senator Wong: I’ve always said that when considering the issue of recognition, we would be guided by the principle of advancing the cause of peace and progress toward a two-state solution. That was what I said before this conflict. It is only reaffirmed, in my view. I think the status quo is failing everyone. As I said, I don’t think there’s a lasting peace unless this issue is resolved. This is a discussion about what is the pathway to peace that is viable. The question is: how can recognition contribute to achieving real progress? I think it’s a discussion we are engaged in, in line with the issues that Secretary Blinken and Foreign Secretary Cameron have outlined.

Senator GREEN: I think you went to this in answers to Senator Birmingham at the beginning of the day. What does this mean for Hamas?

Senator Wong: Hamas has no future role in the governance of Gaza.

Senator GREEN: Going to other comments made recently, how does Australia’s position and the context that you’ve spoken about—recognition and the two-state solution—sit with recent comments by the Israeli Prime Minister opposing a two-state solution?

Senator Wong: I would reiterate what I’ve said earlier. We believe that, ultimately, a two-state solution is the way in which we can see security for Israel, security for the Palestinian people and peace in the region.

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