Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia would formally recognize the Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month. The decision is followed by similar steps of France, Britain and Canada and increases international pressure on Israel in the middle of the growing challenges to address two states.
“Australia will recognize the state of Palestines at 80. The UN General Assembly in September to contribute to international dynamics to solve two states, a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages,” Albanese said in a statement, as Reuters says.
Albanese made a notice after a cabinet meeting and told journalists in Canberra that recognition would be based on obligations that Australia received from the Palestinian authority, including that the Islamic militant Hamas group would not involve any future state.
“The solution of two states is the best hope of humanity that in the Middle East it will disrupt the cycle of violence and end the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” Albanese said at a press conference.
Albanese said he spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah on Thursday and told him that a political solution was needed and not military.
Last week, Australia criticized the Israeli plan to take military control over Gaza and Albanes said that the decision to recognize the Palestinian state was “forced to” Netanyahu’s ignorance of the international community calls and failure to fulfill legal and ethical obligations in Gaza.
“The Netanyahu government will extinguish the prospect of solving two countries by rapidly expanding illegal settlements, endangering annexation on the occupied Palestinian territories and expressly against any Palestinian state,” Albanians said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Palestinian commitments to reform the administration of public affairs, demilitarization and organizing general elections and requirements for the Arab league to end Hamas his rule in Gaza, created the opportunity, he said.
“It’s an opportunity to isolate Hamas,” he added.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday that New Zealand “will” carefully consider his position to recognize the Palestine State in the next month.
(With Reuters inputs)
(Tagstotranslate) Australia
