Two former Liberal prime ministers led the scandal against Australia’s vote to allow Palestine to join the United Nations, saying it “rewards terrorists”.
Australia has joined 142 other countries in supporting a UN resolution to give Palestine more rights as an observer state.
The non-binding resolution recommends that the UN Security Council “favorably” reconsider Palestine gaining full membership after the United States vetoed a similar resolution.
The vote “seems to reward the atrocity of October 7,” Tony Abbott wrote in X, referring to the day Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages.
Scott Morrison was also outraged, tweeting that “this is the most hostile political act by an Australian government towards the State of Israel in our history.”
Two former Liberal prime ministers led the scandal against Australia’s vote to allow Palestine to join the United Nations, saying it “rewards terrorists”. Tony Abbott (left) is pictured with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
‘Such recognition should only occur when there is agreement and when Palestine can be a functional State. “It is currently ruled by terrorists,” referring to Hamas.
Federal Labor MP Josh Burns has slammed the government he is part of, saying its vote at the UN will isolate Australian Jews who face a rise in acts of anti-Semitism since the war in Gaza began after the October 7 atrocities. .
“Hamas still holds 130 hostages and remains the ruling authority in Gaza,” he said on Instagram.
‘The reaction of the Jewish people will rightly question the timing of this vote.
“Anti-Semitism is on the rise in Australia and the decision (to vote yes at the UN) will make Australian Jews feel more isolated as they remain gravely concerned about the hostages in Gaza.”
The vote provides a modest extension of Palestinian observation rights, while rejecting Hamas’s goals and methods, condemning its Oct. 7 attack and calling for the release of hostages, Australian U.N. representative James Larsen said.
“Australia has long believed that a two-state solution offers the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence and achieving lasting peace,” he said.
“Like many member states, Australia has been frustrated by the lack of progress.”
The United States joined Israel and seven other nations in voting against the draft resolution, while 25 others abstained.
China said the resolution reflects the will of the international community and accused the United States of misusing its veto powers.
Scott Morrison (pictured) said: “This is the most hostile political act by an Australian government towards the State of Israel in our history.”
The general assembly meeting was suspended and will reconvene on Monday in New York.
The upgrades to Palestine’s status will not come into effect until September.
The opposition foreign affairs spokesman, Simon Birmingham, accused the Government of lacking courage in the face of pressure.
“Labor’s support for the resolution sends a shameful message that violence and terrorism get results before negotiation and diplomacy,” he said on Saturday.
Voting in favor of the resolution left Australia out of step with important allies who abstained or rejected it and risked emboldening terrorists, Birmingham said.
Amir Maimon, Israel’s ambassador to Australia, said the vote would empower Iran and Hamas to further destabilize the region.
“Giving Palestinians UN rights without direct negotiations is counterproductive,” he wrote in X.
Palestine is pushing for full UN membership as war rages in the Gaza Strip and the United States and its allies call for a two-state solution to the decades-long conflict with Israel.
Palestine’s representative in Australia said supporting the vote increased Australia’s credibility on the international stage and was in line with its policy of eventually recognizing statehood.
The vote came amid international condemnation as Israel advanced towards Rafah, the last refuge in Gaza where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering after the widespread destruction of the strip.
Federal Labor MP Josh Burns (pictured speaking in parliament) has harshly criticized the government he is part of.
US President Joe Biden has threatened to suspend arms exports to Israel if it goes ahead with a large-scale invasion of Rafah, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed concern about the situation. humanitarian.
Australia has called for a ceasefire to allow the release of hostages and the unhindered flow of aid to Gaza.
After Hamas, designated a terrorist group by Australia, invaded Israel on October 7, the Israelis responded with a ground offensive and bombing campaign in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, around 35,000 people have been killed and 77,000 injured in the territory in the past seven months.
