The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) has condemned the Federal Government’s announcement to recognise the State of Palestine as a “political fig leaf” designed to shield Israel from accountability for what it terms ongoing genocide and apartheid.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that Australia will recognise Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, marking a significant shift in Australia’s Middle East policy after months of international pressure.
However, APAN President Nasser Mashni described the move as “tantamount to declaring its intention to entrench the status quo of Israeli genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation of Palestinians in their historic homeland.”
“Community outrage has erupted over Australia’s complicity in Israel genocide, and this announcement of recognition is a cynical political smokescreen, an empty gesture designed to shield Australia’s economic, military and diplomatic ties,” Mr Mashni said.
The advocacy group warned that recognition is “completely meaningless” while Australia continues to trade with and diplomatically protect Israel, arguing that Palestinian rights are “not crumbs to be thrown to Palestinians by western states in lieu of taking the real action they are legally bound to take under the Genocide Convention.”
Historic policy shift
Speaking at Parliament House, Mr Albanese framed the decision as part of a coordinated global effort to build momentum for a two-state solution, following discussions with world leaders including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” the Prime Minister said.
Australia was the first United Nations member to vote for Resolution 181 in 1947, which called for the creation of both Israel and a Palestinian state. Mr Albanese emphasised that recognising Palestine would strengthen, rather than undermine, Australia’s commitment to Israel’s security.
“When we recognise the long held and legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine, we are also upholding and strengthening our commitment to the people of Israel and their right to live in freedom, security and safety,” he said.
Conditional commitments
The recognition comes with detailed commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including recognition of Israel’s right to exist, demilitarisation of any future Palestinian state, governance reform, abolition of payments to families of prisoners and martyrs, and holding general elections.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the practical implementation of recognition would be tied to progress on these commitments, with Australia working alongside the international community to hold the Palestinian Authority accountable.
“We will tie the various practical steps towards recognition to the Palestinian Authority’s commitments and ensuring that those indeed take place,” Senator Wong said.
The Government has also secured unprecedented support from the Arab League demanding Hamas end its rule in Gaza and surrender weapons to the Palestinian Authority.
International coordination
Mr Albanese revealed he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu last Thursday and Palestinian Authority President Abbas the previous Tuesday, describing the conversation with Mr Netanyahu as “civil” despite disagreement over the approach.
“I put the argument to him that we need a political solution, not a military one, because a military response alone has seen the devastation in Gaza,” Mr Albanese said.
Senator Wong confirmed she had briefed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the decision ahead of the announcement, despite the Trump Administration’s opposition to Palestinian statehood recognition.
Strong criticism from advocacy groups
APAN demanded Australia instead impose country-level sanctions on Israel, implement a two-way arms embargo, suspend trade agreements, and support full legal accountability for Israeli officials including Mr Netanyahu, who faces International Criminal Court charges.
“Recognition without decisive action is an insult to Palestinians, and nothing but a veneer that allows Israel to continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences,” Mr Mashni said.
The group argued that Palestinian self-determination includes the right to return to their historic homeland, freedom from military occupation, and dismantling of what they describe as Israel’s apartheid system.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry said in a statement about the announcement: “Israel will feel wronged and abandoned by a longstanding ally. The Palestinian Authority will feel that a huge diplomatic prize has been dropped in its lap, despite its consistent failures to reform, democratise and agree to peaceful coexistence alongside a Jewish state. Hamas and other Islamist groups will see that barbarity on a grand scale can lead to desired political transformation”.
Ongoing humanitarian crisis
Both Mr Albanese and Senator Wong acknowledged the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the Prime Minister stating “the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears” and calling for Israel to allow sufficient aid to reach desperate civilians.
“Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli Government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children,” Mr Albanese said.
The announcement represents Australia joining a growing number of countries recognising Palestinian statehood, with similar recent moves by European allies as the international community seeks to revive prospects for a negotiated two-state solution.
Australia’s recognition will be formally announced at the UN General Assembly in September, marking the culmination of what Senator Wong described as conversations with the Australian people that began in April about changing the country’s approach to the Middle East conflict.
