Anthony Albanese and Emmanuel Macron ‘in agreement’ on Palestine
Anthony Albanese and Emmanuel Macron are ‘working together’ to advance Palestinian statehood ahead of a UN conference on a two-state solution.
Anthony Albanese and Emmanuel Macron are “working together” to advance Palestinian statehood ahead of a UN conference on a two-state solution, the French President has said.
The Prime Minister spoke to Mr Macron on Wednesday, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers saying after the phone call that there was “a lot of momentum” towards recognising Palestine.
Mr Macron also spoke to New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as like-minded Western nations prepare to join forces to recognise a Palestinian state as part of a diplomatic push to bring peace to Gaza.
The French President, who has said he will recognise Palestine at the UN in September, said all three leaders were in agreement on how to move forward.
“Australia, New Zealand and France share the same commitment to the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, the large-scale and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and the implementation of a political solution based on two states, living side-by-side in peace and security,” Mr Macron posted on X.
“We are working together towards these goals ahead of the upcoming conference on the two-state solution to be held in New York during the UN General Assembly.”
Mr Macron also expressed France’s support for Australia’s bid to host next year’s COP31 climate conference, while an Australian readout of the call said the leaders agreed on the importance of finalising the Australia-EU free-trade agreement.
The leaders said they would stay in contract and meet at the UN in September.
It followed calls by Mr Albanese in recent days with Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the path towards Palestinian statehood.
The flurry of diplomacy came after Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly said he was seeking cabinet backing for the “full occupation” of the Gaza Strip.
Dr Chalmers said the latest call was part of the government’s efforts to work in concert with other countries on the issue.
“There has been a lot of progress and a lot of momentum behind efforts to recognise a Palestinian state. I’ve said before … that we consider that to be a matter of when, not if,” he said.
Pro-Palestine Labor backbencher Ed Husic welcomed the call, and said Mr Albanese would at some point need to raise the issue of Palestinian statehood with US President Donald Trump. “We’ll need to find ways … of engaging the Trump administration on this, because they will have a lot of impact and sway on the Netanyahu government. It will require us finding ways to work across nations on that,” he said.
Nationals MP Michael McCormack said Australia “shouldn’t be rushing to reward Palestine” for Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel.
“I’ll believe the dismantling of Hamas when I see it,” Mr McCormack told Sky News.
“The hostages need to be released, we need to get these things in order, and we should not rush to reward. Let’s never forget what happened on October 7.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said this week that recognition of Palestinian statehood was becoming more urgent, and that Australia was co-ordinating its actions with “many countries”.
“Everybody understands that there is a risk that there will be no Palestine left to recognise unless the international community works together towards two states,” she said.
“We want to work with others to ensure that Hamas has no role in a future Palestinian state, and we do have a unique opportunity at this time, with the international community, to isolate Hamas.”
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