Aus splits with US on Palestine vote

ESTIMATES
Australia sided with 154 countries who backed a draft resolution to recognise the ‘permanent sovereignty’ of Palestine. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Australia has split with the United States and Israel voting in favour on a draft United Nations resolution which recognised the “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinian people in occupied territories like the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

On Thursday, Australia sided with 154 countries, including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and France, to vote in favour on the motion which recognised Palestinian sovereignty in the “occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan over their natural resources”.

Australia also backed a second draft resolution which condemned Israel for it actions related to a 2006 oil slick off Beirut’s south coast, and called on Israel to compensate Lebanon and other countries involved.

ESTIMATES
Australia sided with 154 countries who backed a draft resolution to recognise the ‘permanent sovereignty’ of Palestine. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said while Australia did not support everything in the resolution, they said it ultimately reaffirms the importance of a two-state solution.

“While Australia does not agree with everything in the resolution, this vote reflects international concern about Israeli actions that impede access to natural resources, and ongoing settlement activity, land dispossession, demolitions and settler violence against Palestinians,” they said.

“We have been clear that such acts undermine stability and prospects for a two-state solution.”

The vote follows president-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of hard line pro-Israel Fox News host Pete Hegseth as the secretary of defence, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelling a new Trump administration as a “huge victory” for Israel.

Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley said it was inopportune timing for Australia to break ranks with the US.

“With the incoming Trump Administration this government needs to work positively and constructively and needs to build trust,” she told Seven, adding that trust with Australia’s ally was already tense due to the fallout over Kevin Rudd’s previous comment criticising the president-elect.

“This government is coming off a low base when it comes to building that trust.”

Education Minister Jason Clare said Australia’s backing of Palestinian sovereignty was about “building momentum to a two state solution”.

“We need to end the killing and start the talking,” he said on Sunrise.

“This is a vote by more than 150 countries to build momentum, to build two countries behind secure borders where people can live in peace, rather than what we see at the moment.”

He scuppered comments Australia was diverting from the US, and said Mr Trump also “wants peace.

“We want the hostages returned, we want an end to the killing and the slaughter,” he added.

“We want an end to the starvation of little kids in the Middle East as well. That requires an end of the shooting and the bombing and people to get together and talk.”