Penny Wong tilt to Palestine state ‘would reward Hamas attack’: Simon Birmingham

The opposition says Labor’s plan to ‘preemptively recognise a Palestinian state’ would reward the October 7 attack and risks bipartisan consensus on foreign policy.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday night.

The opposition says Labor’s plan to “preemptively recognise a Palestinian state” would reward Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel and risks bipartisan consensus on foreign policy.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Penny Wong’s speech setting out a case for Palestinian statehood ignored the reality of the Israel-Palestine conflict - “that a two-state solution will only be possible with security and confidence that the right of each party to exist will be respected by the other”.

Senator Wong told the ANU’s National Security College on Tuesday that peace could only come with a two-state solution, with “a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel”.

But Senator Birmingham said it was “downright dangerous to reward such barbaric conduct with a fast track to recognition of statehood.”

“To give the greatest chance for a sustainable ceasefire, that leads to prospects for stability and security, Labor should instead be applying maximum pressure on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all hostages and surrender all terrorist capabilities,” he added.

Senator Birmingham said Labor’s policy shift raised more questions than answers, given Senator Wong’s declaration that Hamas had no role in a future Palestinian state, that such a state could not threaten Israel, and would require a reformed Palestinian Authority.

“The Albanese government needs to urgently clarify whether these are preconditions to any recognition by their government of a Palestinian state,” he said.

“Prime Minister Albanese must guarantee not to undertake recognition while Hamas still commands the capacity to attack, Israel’s security remains threatened by those who promote violence, and the Palestinian Authority is crippled by incompetence.

“Labor is threatening to break decades of bipartisan Australian foreign policy that recognition of a Palestinian state should only occur as part of a negotiated solution which gives Israel and a future Palestinian state security within internationally recognised borders.”

Senator Birmingham accused Labor of violating its 2022 election campaign pledge that there would be no difference between the parties on Middle East policy.

Provocative tilt towards Palestine state by Wong

As the UN Security Council considers a new application for Palestinian statehood, Senator Wong said it was in Israel’s interests to respond to the demands of the international community.

“We need to build the pathway out of the endless cycle of violence. We need to build the pathway to a peace that is enduring, and just,” she said. “Because the simple truth is that a secure and prosperous ­future for both Israelis and Palestinians will only come with a two-state solution; recognition of each other’s right to exist; a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel.”

The move comes as the Greens increasingly target pro-Palestine supporters in Labor’s inner-city seats, prompting a warning from Senator Wong that the party was stoking community division.

The government’s policy has driven a further wedge between Labor and Australian supporters of Israel. Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said any talk of recognising Palestinian statehood so soon after the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel would be seen as “a reward for those attacks”.

“Before any talk of statehood is credible, Hamas must be removed and a new generation of Palestinian leadership must emerge, which isn’t corrupt, doesn’t condone violence and recognises Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State,” he said.

Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council director Colin Rubenstein said Palestinians would see any near-term recognition of statehood “as a major national achievement made possible by Hamas’ wave of barbaric mass violence”.

Senator Wong pointed to British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s comment in January that the UK would “look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations”.

She said the normalisation of Israel’s relations with its Arab neighbours, which began prior to the October 7 Hamas attack, was doomed to failure without progress on Palestinian statehood.

“Recognising a Palestinian state – one that can only exist side by side with a secure Israel – doesn’t just offer the Palestinian people an opportunity to realise their aspirations,” she said.

“It also strengthens the forces for peace, and undermines extremism. It undermines Hamas, Iran and Iran’s other destructive proxies in the region.”

Senator Wong reiterated the government’s position that there was no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state and said a reformed Palestinian Authority would be required to ensure Palestinian statehood did not threaten Israel’s security.

But she offered no prescription for removing Hamas from Gaza.

If Australia recognised a Palestinian state, it would join 140 of 193 UN member states to do so. But no major Western democracy, ­including Australia’s closest Five Eyes allies, has done so.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected international calls for Palestinian statehood, warning it would “endanger the state of Israel”, and blasting “attempts to coerce us”.

US President Joe Biden has become increasingly frustrated with Mr Netanyahu, issuing a stark warning last week that future American support for the Jewish state would hinge on Israeli efforts to protect civilians and aid workers. US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer also warned recently that Israel risked becoming an international pariah.

The UN’s 15-member Security Council is expected to make a decision about Palestine’s bid to become a full member of the world body this month. But Security Council approval requires all permanent members – the US, Russia, China, France and Britain – to support the change. The US has a longstanding policy that Palestinian statehood must come as the result of a negotiated agreement with Israel.

The government’s policy shift came a day after it appointed a former chief of the defence force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, as its special adviser on Israel’s investigation into the killing of seven aid workers last week, including Australian Zomi Frankcom.

Anthony Albanese said he expected Israel to cooperate with Australia’s envoy, including through the provision of classified material.

Labor has intensified its criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza as civilian casualties have soared and protesters have surged onto the streets of Australia’s capital cities calling for a free Palestine.

Senator Wong decried the growing community disharmony over the war, blasting politicians who she said were “manipulating legitimate and heartfelt community concern for their own ends”.

“The Greens political party is willing to purposely amplifying disinformation, exploiting distress in a blatant and cynical play for votes with no regard for the social disharmony they are fuelling,” she said.

“At the same time, Mr Dutton reflexively dismisses concern for Palestinians as ‘Hamas sympathising’.”

Despite mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, Mr Netanyahu said on Tuesday AEST that a date had been set for the invasion of the Southern Gaza city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.

“It will happen. There is a date,” he said in a video statement in Hebrew.

Prime Minister Albanese urged Mr Netanyahu to abandon the plan, amid fears of a civilian bloodbath.

“I have directly put to Prime Minister Netanyahu Australia’s concern about a ground invasion of Rafah and the consequences that would be there for the civilian population, who, of course, were told in Gaza to go south … and are now confronting a potential ground invasion there,” he said.

“We’re very concerned about the humanitarian consequences, as are like minded countries, including the United States.”