Australia–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations between Australia and the State of Palestine.[1] Australia does not recognise the State of Palestine but does support a two state solution.[2][3]
Australia has a representative office in Ramallah, West Bank.[2]
History
Early history
The Australia–Palestine relationship started in 1982 with the establishment of a Palestinian information office in Canberra. In 1989, the Australian Government recognised the Palestinian information office as the official representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization. In 1994, this office was upgraded to the status of general delegation.[4] Australia established a representative office in Ramallah in September 2000.[2]
2010s
In 2012 Australia voted for making Palestine a Non-Member Observer State in the United Nations.[5]
Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine visited Australia in 2015.[6]Tony Abbott withdrew Australian opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Malcolm Turnbull criticised United Nations resolutions against settlement activities.[7][8] In December 2018, the Morrison government recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but said it would not immediately relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv.[9] This made Australia the third country after the United States and Guatemala to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital.[10]
During the Israel-Hamas War, the Australian government defended Israel's right to defend itself and retaliate against Hamas' 7 October attack.[17] It called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.[18]Gareth Evans, and Bob Carr have called on Australia to recognise Palestine.[19]Palestine Action Group organised protests against the war in Australia.[20] The Palestinian Authority was critical of the Australian government's response to the conflict.[21]
In May 2024, Australia was one of 143 countries to support Palestine's bid for full UN membership,[22] but foreign minister Penny Wong later said this did not mean her country would recognise Palestine as a state, that the vote was about awarding "modest additional rights to participate in United Nations forums" and that Australia would only recognise Palestine "when we think the time is right".[23]
On 15 August 2024, Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton called on the Australian government to ban the entry of Palestinian refugees from Gaza. His remarks were condemned by independent MP Zali Steggall, Education MinisterJason Clare and Australia Palestine Advocacy Network leader Nasser Mashni for promoting racial stereotypes.[24] That same day, SBS World News reported that the Australian government has rejected the majority of Palestinianvisa applications, accepting 2,922 and rejecting 7,111 in the period since October 2023. By contrast, the Australian government had granted 8,746 visas to Israeli citizens while rejecting only 235 during that same period.[25]
Public opinion
Pro-Palestinian graffiti on campaign ads for Australian politician Ged Kearney in the Melbourne suburb of Preston.
Some Aboriginal Australians including the Aboriginal Legal Service have expressed sympathy for Palestinians due to perceived historical parallels.[26]Australian Jewish journalist Antony Loewenstein has criticised mainstream Australian Zionist groups such as AIJAC and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry for supporting Israel's military occupation of the Palestinians.[27]
During the Israel–Hamas war a poll by the Guardian Essential found Australians wanted their government to provide aid to the Palestinians.[28] In May 2024, a YouGov poll conducted between 19 and 23 April found that 35% of Australians supported recognising a Palestinian state. 21% opposed recognition while 44% stated that they did not know.[29]
^"Australia". General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
^"Press Conference Adelaide". Minister for Foreign Affairs. 22 November 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
