Australia has for the first time publicly voiced its concerns about Israel’s potential annexation of land in the West Bank under the provisions of the Trump administration’s peace plan.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne on Wednesday night issued a statement amid growing pressure on the federal government to join like-minded countries including Britain, Germany, France and Italy in condemning any move.
The Morrison government had hoped to continue to quietly lobby the Israelis behind the scenes and resisted demands from Labor, the United Nations and international aid groups to speak out.
Israel appears set to delay any plans to apply sovereignty of up to 30 per cent of the West Bank, covering Israeli settlements, by July 1 which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had negotiated in his government coalition deal with rival Benny Gantz.
Senator Payne said the Australian government was a longstanding supporter of a two-state solution, in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in “peace and security, within internationally recognised borders”.
“We urge all parties to refrain from actions that diminish the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution, including acts of violence and terrorism including rocket attacks on civilians and land appropriations, demolitions, and settlement activity,” she said.
Read the article by Rob Harris in The Sydney Morning Herald.