The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) welcomes the Foreign Minister’s support for the recognition of Palestine, but considers this only the first political step in supporting Palestinians to realise their rights to self-determination, justice and equality.
With the most right-wing government in Israel’s history currently committing genocide in Gaza, and terrorising Palestinians in the West Bank, the Australia Government must also recognise that Israel operates according to a policy of apartheid that violently deprives Palestinians, including Palestinian refugees, of their basic rights.
Breaking Israel’s 76-year history of violence and oppression in Palestine therefore relies on Australia and other like-minded countries not only recognising Palestine, but acting to end the decades of impunity they have offered Israel to violate international law.
Quotes attributed to APAN President Nasser Mashni:
“It’s high time that Australia joined the other 139 like-minded countries around the world in recognising Palestine.
“Recognition is a first step towards upholding the full rights of Palestinians, including the right to self-determination, dignity and equality in their homeland, but it’s only the beginning of the work Australia needs to do to contribute to the breaking of this 76-year history of Israeli violence against, and oppression of, Palestinians.
“Australia must also recognise that Israel is an apartheid state that methodically privileges Jewish Israelis and discriminates against Palestinians in order to maintain control over the lives of Palestinians in their homeland.
“Australia’s recognition of Palestine would send a signal to the world – that Australia supports the consistent application of international law, that it firmly objects to apartheid Israel’s genocide, occupation and oppression of Palestinians, that it values, supports and will strive for the realisation of Palestinian rights, and that it wants to be part of a global wave of change towards a political resolution for the Palestinian people.”