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November 15, 2024 | 11:35 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australia has lent its support to a United Nations (UN) resolution affirming the "permanent sovereignty" of Palestine over the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the natural resources of Arab inhabitants in the occupied Syrian Golan. This marks a significant shift from its previous stance, as reported by The Guardian.
Seven nations, including the United States, Israel, and Canada, opposed the resolution, while eleven others abstained. The resolution is now slated for a vote in the UN General Assembly.
This marks the first time the Australian government has endorsed a "permanent sovereignty" resolution since its inception nearly two decades ago.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong explained that the vote reflects international concern over Israel's actions, such as "ongoing settlement activities, land confiscation, demolitions, and settler violence against Palestinian civilians."
“We have been clear that such acts undermine stability and prospects for a two-state solution,” Wong said.
The news site clarifies that Australia's stance on final status issues, including borders, security, and occupied East Jerusalem, remains unchanged and requires resolution through negotiations aimed at achieving a "two-state solution".
In a separate draft resolution, member states selected Israel to bear responsibility and provide compensation to Lebanon for the 2006 oil spill that significantly impacted Lebanon's coastline and neighboring countries.
Australia, along with 160 other countries, voted in favor of this resolution, despite harboring reservations about certain aspects of the resolution's language.
A Shift in Australian Policy
In April 2024, during a meeting with then-British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Wong indicated that Canberra would consider recognizing the state of Palestine, signaling a policy shift amidst international efforts to achieve a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Wong expressed support for Cameron's assertion that recognizing Palestine, including within the United Nations, would render the two-state solution irreversible.
Wong stated that the international community is actively discussing Palestinian statehood as a means of galvanizing momentum toward a two-state solution.
“A two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence,” she emphasized while speaking at the Australian National University, as quoted by Reuters.
The Guardian reported that in May, Australia backed the UN vote on Palestinian membership in the General Assembly. Wong clarified at the time that the vote aimed to grant Palestine “modest additional rights to participate in United Nations forums” and reiterated that Australia would only recognize Palestine “when we think the time is right”.
AL MAYADEEN | REUTERS
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