00:00Well, Anthony Albanese has revealed that frustration with Israel's actions in Gaza, and namely the
00:09blocking of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, as well as the killing of civilians
00:14queuing up for food and water, has contributed to Australia's decision to recognise Palestinian
00:20statehood.
00:21We learned yesterday that the Prime Minister had a phone conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu,
00:27his Israeli counterpart, last Thursday, in which he informed him of Australia's decision
00:32to recognise Palestinian statehood at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New
00:38York next month.
00:40And this is after the PM had essentially extracted commitments from the Palestinian Authority
00:46on two issues.
00:47One, that it would shake up its governance and change the way that things are done there,
00:52that Hamas has no involvement in any future Palestinian state, but two, he sought assurances
00:59regarding Israel's future security.
01:03We'll remember, though, that the Prime Minister just two weeks ago was adamant that, I guess,
01:08this question of Palestinian statehood and recognition wasn't an imminent one, at least
01:14on Australia's side.
01:16However, we did see that change yesterday, and he indicated that that's down to a couple
01:21of things.
01:22One, growing international momentum and support for Palestinian statehood, but as well, Benjamin
01:30Netanyahu's decision last week, an announcement that he had plans to reoccupy Gaza.
01:37Ultimately, the Prime Minister this morning accused Mr Netanyahu of being in denial when it comes
01:44to the consequences on the ground in Gaza.
01:47The decisions of the Netanyahu government, firstly, the stopping of aid that we've seen,
01:57and then the loss of life that we're seeing around those aid distribution points, where people
02:06queuing for food and water, losing their lives, is just completely unacceptable.
02:16And we have said that.
02:18I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
02:20He, again, reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial
02:29about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people.
02:36Liv, the coalition isn't happy.
02:38They've essentially decried this decision, saying that it puts Australia at odds with its
02:42most important ally, the United States.
02:45And they've also accused the government of essentially rewarding the terrorist group Hamas,
02:50which, as we know, perpetrated the October 7 terrorist attacks.
02:55That is a position shared by Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, and this is his
03:01response on ABC 7.30 last night.
03:04It will not change anything on the ground.
03:07It will not bring a ceasefire.
03:10It will not bring about a release of the hostages.
03:14And it will not bring the two parties closer.
03:17On the contrary, it would take them apart.
03:19So, while both the major parties do support a two-state solution on the ground in Israel
03:27and Gaza, ultimately, though, they do differ when it comes to when that recognition should
03:33occur.
03:33So, ultimately, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, about a year ago, said that the government
03:39was changing its position, saying that it was open to recognition as part of the peace
03:44process.
03:45The coalition, on the other hand, think that recognition should only come at the end of
03:50the peace process.
03:51And that's why we're hearing these suggestions from them, that this is a reward to Hamas.
03:57Australia, though, by taking this move yesterday, ultimately puts it in a broad consensus when
04:03it comes to the United Nations.
04:05The vast majority of member states do support a Palestinian statehood.
04:10The notable exception, though, of course, is the United States.
04:14We did hear from the Shadow Home Affairs Minister, Andrew Hastie, on ABC Breakfast this morning,
04:21and he says that the government has done the wrong thing and acted prematurely.
04:25The coalition thinks this is a bad decision, and it's historic for all the wrong reasons,
04:29because it rewards and it empowers Hamas, and it diminishes a close democratic ally in
04:36Israel.
04:36Hamas, in the space of two years, using extreme violence, has been able to achieve what Yasser
04:43Arafat could not achieve in a lifetime.
04:45And I think it sends the wrong message to terrorist groups around the world, but particularly Hamas,
04:50which still enjoys widespread support in both the West Bank and Gaza.
04:55We have seen US President Donald Trump certainly being more critical of his ally in Benjamin
05:03Netanyahu in recent months, specifically calling out Mr Netanyahu's claims that there's no starvation
05:09on the ground in Gaza.
05:11However, Washington, judging by its voting record in the past at the United Nations General Assembly,
05:17they could use its veto powers on the Security Council to essentially block a Palestine's
05:24bid to become the 194th member of the United Nations General Assembly.
05:29That vote is going to happen next month.
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