Australia is under increasing pressure to join the international effort to acknowledge Palestinian statehood as French President, Emmanuel Macron, campaigns for global backing of a new Middle East peace agreement.
Heading up to a United Nations-backed summit in New York this month aimed at increasing momentum for a two-state solution, France has been urging western nations, including Australia and the UK, to support the movement.
Rumours have been growing that France, which is co-hosting the conference with Saudi Arabia, could use the event to acknowledge Palestine in an effort to invigorate the peace process.
Last week, Macron stated that acknowledging Palestine was not just a “moral obligation” but also a “political necessity,” urging European nations to strengthen their collective stance against Israel if the humanitarian crisis in Gaza persisted.
While France, alongside Australia, the UK, and the US, does not currently recognise Palestine, this stance contrasts with the position of 147 of the 193 UN member states.
“Beyond the humanitarian tragedy, what is at stake is the very possibility of a Palestinian state,” Macron stated in Singapore. “We see clearly that there are efforts to make a Palestinian state impossible. But what we are defending is a political resolution to the situation.”
In a statement to the Guardian Australia, a spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that they are collaborating with international partners, including Australia, on their four priorities for the summit from 17 to 20 June.
These priorities include the recognition of a Palestinian state, normalising relations with regional countries, reforming the Palestinian Authority, and disarming Hamas.
“President Macron wants this proposed recognition to be part of a broader political dynamic that will facilitate progress in establishing a Palestinian state and in Israel’s regional and international integration,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that Australia is engaging with the conference’s organising countries and partners. “The two-state solution conference plays a crucial role in advancing the political, economic, and security issues that need to be addressed to implement a lasting two-state solution,” the spokesperson said.
Professor Don Rothwell, an expert in international law at the Australian National University, described the summit as a “novel process” reflecting France and other like-minded countries’ views on the need for a different approach to resolving the issue.
Speculation of a potential shift in the Australian government’s position intensified after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned Israel’s blockade of food and aid into Gaza as an “outrage.”
