Australia’s Minister for International Affairs Penny Wong has informed the nation’s media that “there’s a danger there can be no Palestine left to recognise”, amid Israel’s devastating struggle on Gaza and rising violence in opposition to Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution.
Wong, who didn’t point out that Australia plans to alter its stance and recognise Palestinian statehood, made her feedback in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Company ( ABC) on Tuesday morning, the place she responded to questions on a mass protest in Sydney attended by a whole lot of hundreds of individuals rallying in opposition to Israel’s struggle on Gaza.
Organisers mentioned that between 200,000 and 300,000 folks joined the protest throughout the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday. Police had initially estimated that about 90,000 folks took half.
Wong mentioned the Australian authorities shared the protesters “need for peace and a ceasefire”, and that the large turnout mirrored “the broad Australian group’s horror” and the “misery of Australians, on what we’re seeing unfolding in Gaza, the catastrophic humanitarian state of affairs, the deaths of ladies and youngsters, the withholding of assist”.
Nonetheless, requested if Australia was contemplating taking any extra concrete actions, corresponding to imposing sanctions on Israel, Wong mentioned: “We don’t speculate on sanctions for the plain cause that they’ve extra impact if they aren’t flagged.”
She famous that Australia had already imposed sanctions on two far-right ministers in Netanyahu’s authorities, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, in June this yr, in addition to “extremist” Israeli settlers.
On Australia’s place relating to Palestinian statehood, Wong mentioned: “In relation to recognition, I’ve mentioned for over a yr now, it’s a matter of when, not if.”
Wong’s interview got here as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is reportedly searching for to talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the wake of Sunday’s protest.
Responding to questions on what he plans to debate with Netanyahu, Albanese mentioned he would once more categorical his assist for a two-state answer.
Rawan Arraf, the chief director of the Australian Centre for Worldwide Justice, mentioned that the “solely enterprise” that Albanese must be discussing with Netanyahu is cancelling the “two-way arms commerce between Australia and and Israel, new sanctions measures, and Netanyahu’s one-way journey to the [International Criminal Court] to face struggle crimes and crimes in opposition to humanity fees“.
Albanese “should not give legitimacy to an accused struggle prison”, Arraf wrote in a put up on X.
Whereas each Albanese and Wong have continued to stress the significance of a two-state answer, Australia has but to comply with different nations, together with France and Canada, which have just lately introduced their plans to recognise Palestinian statehood, and be part of the overwhelming majority of nations which already achieve this.
Albanese additionally had a cellphone name with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday, the primary publicly recorded name between the pair since November 2023, in response to the ABC.
Responding to questions in regards to the Sydney protest rally, Albanese mentioned: “It’s not stunning that so many Australians have been affected to be able to wish to present their concern at folks being disadvantaged of meals and water and important providers.”
However the state authorities in New South Wales, which is led by Albanese’s Labor Get together, had sought to forestall the march from crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge within the week main as much as the protest.
The protest solely went forward after State Supreme Court docket Justice Belinda Rigg dominated that “the march at this location is motivated by the idea that the horror and urgency of the state of affairs in Gaza calls for an pressing and extraordinary response from the folks of the world”.
“The proof signifies there may be vital assist for the march,” Rigg added.
Quite a few state and federal Labor ministers additionally took half within the march, in a sign of a rising divide inside Albanese’s celebration.
Unbiased journalist Antony Loewenstein informed Al Jazeera that Sunday’s march confirmed that Australians are “annoyed that our authorities is doing little greater than speak at this level”.
“Persons are so outraged, not simply by what Israel is doing in Gaza, but in addition the Australian authorities’s complicity,” mentioned Loewenstein, who spoke on the march on Sunday.
Australia “is a part of the worldwide provide chain for the F-35 fighter jet, which Israel is utilizing over Gaza daily, and the elements which can be amongst these elements within the aircraft are in all probability coming from Australia”, he mentioned.