Coalition accuses government of trashing ‘decades-long’ bipartisan stance on Israel

The Coalition is accusing Labor of trashing a “decades-long” stance on Israel and Palestine.

The Coalition is accusing the Albanese government of trashing a ‘decades-long’ bipartisan position for a two-state solution. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The Albanese government has “trashed” Australia’s “decades-long” bipartisan position on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, the federal opposition says.

A two-state solution, which is backed by most countries and the Palestinian Authority, would officially carve out a Palestinian state with internationally recognised borders.

But Coalition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham on Wednesday accused the government of breaking the “longstanding part of bipartisan policy in Australia”, saying a government motion on Tuesday omitted that the UN-endorsed proposal “needs to be a negotiated two-state solution”.

Coalition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham says the Albanese government has ‘trashed’ Australia’s position on a two-state solution. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“There is not a fast track pathway to recognise a Palestinian state without resolving those difficult questions around borders, rights of return and security guarantees,” he told the ABC.

Senator Birmingham’s comments come after calls from Foreign Minister Penny Wong for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas as well as a timeline for Palestinian statehood.

The idea of a two-state solution has been kicking about for decades with little movement, hampered by violent flare-ups between Palestinian terrorist group Hamas and Israel.

Senator Wong has argued that meaningful progress, starting with a ceasefire, would help end the cycle of violence.

Israeli ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon with Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But her Coalition counterpart said a ceasefire would do nothing for lasting peace if it was not “properly negotiated”.

“We’re not against a ceasefire, but it needs to be a properly negotiated ceasefire that is actually going to provide for enduring security, enduring opportunity for a peaceful resolution for all parties, not just a ceasefire that simply stops hostilities and enables the terrorists to regroup and repeat the atrocities that occurred on October 7 last year,” Senator Birmingham said.

Clause 12 of the government’s motion on Wednesday reiterated the House’s “support for a two-state solution, a Palestinian state alongside Israel, so that Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders, as the only option to ensuring a just and enduring peace”.

The Coalition rejected the motion.

Originally published as Coalition accuses government of trashing ‘decades-long’ bipartisan stance on Israel