Canberra: Australia’s decision to formally recognise a Palestinian state has drawn strong reactions from both Jewish and Palestinian community leaders, exposing deep divisions over the government’s move.The recognition, which took effect on Sunday night in coordination with the United Kingdom and Canada, was described by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of a “coordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two‑state solution.”
But Jewish leaders in Australia condemned the announcement, warning it would embolden militant groups. Daniel Aghion, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the decision risked rewarding Hamas for the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel. “Far from creating momentum towards a two‑state peace, recognition of a Palestinian state in these circumstances will set the process back,” he said. He argued that Hamas would now have less incentive to release hostages or disarm, while the Palestinian Authority lacked the strength to curb Hamas’ influence.
Critics also described the recognition as largely symbolic, pointing to the political division between the West Bank and Gaza and the absence of a recognised Palestinian capital.
On the other side, Palestinian advocates welcomed the recognition but dismissed it as insufficient. The Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network (APAN) said the move was designed to placate public anger over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead and widespread famine. APAN president Nasser Mashn accused the government of prioritising trade with Israel over its obligations under international law. “This action is an attempt to placate the people,” he said. “The calls are clear: an immediate ceasefire, sanctions, justice, self‑determination and liberation.”
Palestinian leaders in Australia said recognition came too late for those already killed or displaced in Gaza and urged the government to go further by imposing sanctions, halting trade, and pursuing accountability for alleged war crimes.
The debate comes against a backdrop of history. Britain and France played pivotal roles in shaping the Middle East after World War I, with the UK administering Palestine under a League of Nations mandate and issuing the 1917 Balfour Declaration that supported a Jewish homeland.
While Albanese framed the recognition as a step toward peace, the backlash from both sides highlights the challenges of translating symbolic gestures into meaningful progress in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.
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