Australia’s recent vote at the United Nations has certainly caught attention and sparked plenty of discussion. In a significant move, the Australian government backed a resolution calling for Israel to withdraw from occupied Palestinian territories.
This decision puts Australia in line with 157 other countries, urging Israel to “bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.
The resolution also aims to recognise the “inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state”.
The war in Gaza has seen more than 44,000 deaths since its escalation on October 7, 2023.
Interestingly, this shift comes after Australia abstained from a similar resolution back in September, that demanded Israel end its “unlawful presence” in Gaza and the West Bank within 12 months. However, it seems that Australia is clearly shifting towards a pro-Palestine stance as it also threw its support behind a UN proposal recognising Palestinian “permanent sovereignty” over natural resources in occupied territories in November.
Now, with this latest vote, our UN ambassador, James Larsen, emphasised the importance of working towards a two-state solution. He noted, “A two-state solution remains the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence, the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples.”
However, not everyone is on board with this new direction. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been vocal about his concerns, claiming the government has compromised its relationship with the Jewish community for political gain.
“There was a lot of anger, understandably … with the way in which the government has sold out the Jewish community,” he said to reporters in Sydney.
Dutton also emphasised that this move puts Australia out of step with its allies, particularly the United States who voted against the resolution along with Israel and six countries.
“I think we should be standing with allies like the United States instead,” he said.
The Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham has accused the Albanese government of abandoning “a key democratic ally in Israel” and putting Australia at “odds” with the US.
On the flip side, advocates for Palestinian rights are celebrating this decision. Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, called it “an important step”, highlighting that it aligns Australia “with the overwhelming majority of the world in standing up for Palestinian justice and human rights, and accountability for Israel”.
The Palestinian Advocacy Network urges the Australian Government to now take “decisive measures”, including:
- implementing sanctions on Israel
- an immediate two-way arms embargo,
- reviewing and suspending any economic and military connections Australia shares with this Israel
- supporting and advocating for international mechanisms of accountability to be put in place, including the International Court of Justice’s investigation into alleged Israeli war crimes.
It’s also worth mentioning that this resolution was one of three passed at the General Assembly. The other two included a call for an end to Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights and an outline for increased Palestinian representation at the UN.
While these resolutions are not legally binding, they signal growing international pressure on Israel regarding its policies in the occupied territories.
Lead image: Getty Images
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