Australia–Palestine relations

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Australian–Palestinian relations
Map indicating locations of Australia and Palestine

Australia
Palestine

Australia–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations between Australia and the State of Palestine.[1] Australia does not recognise the State of Palestine but does support a two state solution.[2][3]

Australia has a representative office in Ramallah, West Bank.[2]

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

The Australia–Palestine relationship started in 1982 with the establishment of a Palestinian information office in Canberra. In 1989, the Australian Government recognised the Palestinian information office as the offical representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. In 1994, this office was upgraded to the status of general delegation.[4] Australia established a representative office in Ramallah in September 2000.[2]

2010s[edit]

In 2012 Australia voted for making Palestine a Non-Member Observer State in the United Nations.[5]

Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine visited Australia in 2015.[6] Tony Abbott withdrew Australian opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Malcolm Turnbull criticised United Nations resolutions against settlement activities.[7][8] In 2018 the Morrison government recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but would not immediately relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv.[9] This made Australia the third country after the United States and Guatemala to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.[10]

2020s[edit]

In 2021 the Australian Labor Party incorporated Palestinian Statehood in its election platform.[10] From 2022 to 2023 Australia provided US$11.0 million to the Palestinian territories and US$12.9 million to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.[10]

In October 2022 the Albanese government reversed the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and restarted using the term Occupied Palestinian Territories.[11] It also confirmed that the Australian embassy to Israel will remain in Tel Aviv.[12] This move was criticised by representatives of the Australian Jewish community, including the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), but welcomed by the Palestinian community and Mohammed Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of Palestine.[13][14] It was also criticised by Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton, Zionist Federation of Australia, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, and the government of Israel.[15] It marked a "modest" change in the Australian government's policy towards Palestine under the Australian Labor Party.[16]

During the Israel-Hamas War, the Australian government defended Israel's right to defend itself and retaliate against Hamas' 7 October attack.[17] It called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.[18] Gareth Evans, and Bob Carr have called on Australia to recognise Palestine.[19] Palestine Action Group organised protests against the war in Australia.[20] The Palestinian Authority was critical of the Australian government's response to the conflict.[21]

Public opinion[edit]

Some Aboriginal Australians including the Aboriginal Legal Service have expressed sympathy for Palestinians due to perceived historical parallels.[22] Australian Jewish journalist Antony Loewenstein has criticised mainstream Australian Zionist groups such as AIJAC and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for supporting Israel's military occupation of the Palestinians.[23]

During the Israel–Hamas war a poll by the Guardian Essential found Australians wanted their government to provide aid to the Palestinians.[24] In May 2024, a YouGov poll conducted between 19 and 23 April found that 35% of Australians supported recognising a Palestinian state. 21% opposed recognition while 44% stated that they did not know.[25]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Australia's Israel-Palestine conflict | Lowy Institute". www.lowyinstitute.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  2. ^ a b c "Occupied Palestinian Territories". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Examining Australia's Relations with the Middle East". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  4. ^ "Australia". General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  5. ^ "General Assembly Votes Overwhelmingly to Accord Palestine 'Non-Member Observer State' Status in United Nations | UN Press". press.un.org. Archived from the original on 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  6. ^ "Palestinian Authority Urges Australia to Restore 'Balance' to Mideast Policy". Haaretz. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  7. ^ Swan, Jonathan (25 November 2013). "Tony Abbott quietly shifts UN position to support Israeli settlements, upsetting Palestinians". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ Packham, Colin (22 February 2017). "Netanyahu blasts U.N. 'hypocrisy', Australian PM opposes 'one-sided resolutions'". Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Government recognises West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, embassy to stay put". ABC News. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Napach, Lily (23 August 2023). "Australia's Evolving Debate on Israel and Palestine". Center for Strategic & International Studies. Archived from the original on 21 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Referring to Palestinian Territories". www.aph.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  12. ^ "Australia reverses recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  13. ^ Shanahan, Rodger (2023-08-09). "Australian politics and the Israeli–Palestinian issue". The Strategist. Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  14. ^ "Australia reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israeli capital". 2022-10-18. Archived from the original on 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  15. ^ Knott, Matthew (2023-08-09). "Palestine leaps upon 'occupied' shift, urges full recognition of statehood". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  16. ^ Langlois, Alexander (2023-10-04). "Labor modestly shifts australia's palestine policy". Near East Policy Forum. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  17. ^ "Australia Defends Israel's Right to Retaliate After Hamas Attacks". Voice of America. 2023-10-10. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  18. ^ "Press Conference Adelaide". Minister for Foreign Affairs. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  19. ^ "There is no legal impediment to Australia's recognition of Palestine". ABC Religion & Ethics. 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  20. ^ "Thousands in Australia join pro-Palestinian march over Gaza". Reuters. 21 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  21. ^ Fellner, Natassia Chrysanthos, Carrie (2023-10-08). "Australia's response to Hamas attacks disappointing, says Palestinian Authority". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Media release: Statement in solidarity with the people of Palestine". Aboriginal Legal Service. 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  23. ^ Loewenstein, Antony (11 November 2022). "Australian Jews are changing their views on Israel. And they need a new voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  24. ^ Karp, Paul (2023-11-13). "More Australians support providing assistance to Palestine than Israel in Gaza conflict, Essential poll finds". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  25. ^ "More Australians are in favour than in opposition of recognising Palestine as an independent state". YouGov. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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