The Albanese government’s empty gesture declaring the West Bank and Gaza “Occupied Palestinian Territories” and Israeli settlements “illegal” is more about Labor’s national conference next week than well-considered foreign policy. No Palestinian state, with official borders, has been established; the territories are disputed, not occupied. On Wednesday, Anthony Albanese told parliament his government supported a two-state solution, including a Palestinian state, and strongly supported Israel’s right to exist.
The Australian has long supported a two-state solution, but we recognise that Palestinian independent statehood depends on a negotiated settlement with Israel. The Palestinian leadership, regrettably, has refused to accept that reality for too long.
As Greg Sheridan wrote on Wednesday, when offered more than 90 per cent of the West Bank, all of Gaza and compensating territory from Israel proper by several Israeli prime ministers, the Palestinians have rejected what should have been a decent and sensible outcome.