Is Australia considering recognizing Palestine as a state? Foreign Minister Penny Wong says two-state solution is ‘the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence’

Recognizing a Palestinian state is the Middle East’s “only hope for breaking the endless cycle of violence”, says Foreign Minister Penny Wong, urging all sides to return to the negotiating table as the war continues.

In a speech at the Australian National University, Senator Wong said a secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians would only be achieved with a two-state solution.

“Recognizing a Palestinian state – one that can only exist alongside a secure Israel – not only offers the Palestinian people an opportunity to realize their aspirations,” he said Tuesday at a National Security College conference.

‘It also strengthens the forces for peace and undermines extremism. It undermines Hamas, Iran and other destructive proxies of Iran in the region.

“That is why we urge all parties to return to the table and commit to supporting all efforts to advance a political process, including discussions between regional leaders.”

His comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated Labour’s support for a two-state solution and referred to UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron as saying Britain would seek to recognize a Palestinian state, even at the United Nations.

Senator Wong said there was “widespread frustration” at the lack of progress towards a two-state solution – a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and in Gaza alongside Israel – since the Oslo Accords were signed in the early 1990s. 1990.

“So the international community is now considering the issue of Palestinian statehood as a way to build momentum toward a two-state solution,” Senator Wong said.

He ruled out Hamas having any role in leading a Palestinian state; instead, that job should fall to a reformed Palestinian Authority.

‘There is no role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has the explicit intention of destroying the State of Israel and the Jewish people.’

The foreign minister also again warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to carry out a planned ground offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is the enclave’s last refuge for displaced Palestinians.

“Again we say: do not go down this path,” Senator Wong said.

The conflict in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7 that left 1,200 dead, according to Israeli counts, and more than 250 people taken hostage.

More than 33,000 Palestinians have died in six months of conflict, Gaza’s Health Ministry says.

Most of the enclave’s 2.3 million residents are homeless and many are at risk of famine.