Abstention on Palestine vote first step to balanced foreign policy
A national Palestine advocacy group says Australia abstaining from a vote that would give Palestine greater recognition in the United Nations would be a “small step towards a more balanced foreign policy”.
The Rev Gregor Henderson, acting President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network says “It is far from a bold step of leadership, but at least will ensure we’re not the last to recognise the aspirations of the Palestinian people
“Australians have had enough of the one-eyed support of Israel, and we hope that this is the first step to greater recognition of the suffering of the people of Palestine and their legitimate aspirations.
The vote will occur in the UN General Assembly on the 29th November, coinciding with UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The proposed resolution is to recognise Palestine as a non-member state, the same status as the Vatican.
Thursday 29th November is the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People with a speech to be made by UN Secretary General and events held around Australia.
In a Roy Morgan poll in November last year, APAN found that six times more people thought the Gillard Government favoured Israel than those who thought they favour Palestine.