August 11, 2025 | 05:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that his country will recognize Palestine in September, coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). According to the Times of Israel, this decision comes just two weeks after he stated that there were no immediate plans to take this step.
"Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality," Albanese said after the cabinet meeting.
He referred to this move as part of a globally coordinated effort to build momentum towards a two-state solution.
Albanese stated that the commitments of the Palestinian Authority include not involving Hamas in the government, demilitarizing Gaza, and holding elections, the last of which was held in 2006.
The Palestinian Authority also must pledge to recognize Israel's right to live in peace and security, undergo major reforms under international supervision to prevent incitement, and abolish the system of payments to Palestinian security detainees and families of attackers killed.
"A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said.
He added that in the past two weeks, he has spoken with leaders from the UK, France, New Zealand, Japan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Albanese assessed that Israel continues to defy international law, while the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. He then mentioned that he had a long conversation with Netanyahu, but his arguments were the same as they were a year ago. "It seems to me very clearly and I put the argument to him that we need a political solution — not a military one," Albanese said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it has been more than 77 years since the world promised a Palestinian state.
"In the nearly two years since [the] October 7 [terror attack by Hamas], we have been working with the international community on breaking the cycle of violence," she said, as reported by ABC.
"We can't keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt."
According to The Jerusalem Post, the Australian federal cabinet will formalize this decision, following similar steps or stances by the UK, France, and Canada.
The decision comes amidst pressure from members of Albanese's cabinet and pro-Palestinian activists, as well as criticism of Israel's new military strike plan in Gaza. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also previously stated that the recognition would encourage the modernization of Palestinian leadership.
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