Australia was on the verge of splitting with the US for the third time on a United Nations vote regarding Israel, leaning towards abstaining overnight on a resolution demanding the Jewish state end its occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months.

Without further concessions from Palestinian negotiators, the Albanese government was unlikely to vote for the resolution, amid concerns it did not accurately reflect the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion from July that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem was illegal and should end.