As French President Emmanuel Macron mobilises worldwide support for a new Middle East peace accord, pressure is mounting on Australia to join the global movement to recognise Palestinian statehood. Before a United Nations-sponsored meeting in New York this month aimed at accelerating momentum for a two-state solution, France has been pressing western countries, notably Australia and the United Kingdom.
In an effort to jumpstart the peace process, there has been increasing speculation that France, which is co-chairing the summit with Saudi Arabia, may use it to recognise Palestine.
Macron encouraged European nations to take a more firm stand against Israel in the following hours and days if the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza were to continue, saying last week that acknowledging Palestine was both a principled and a political necessity.
Palestine is not recognised by Paris, Australia, the UK, or the US, unlike 147 of the 193 UN nations.
Macron stated in Singapore on Friday that “the very existence of a Palestinian state is at stake, beyond the humanitarian catastrophe.” It’s obvious that some people are working hard to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. However, we are standing up for a workable political solution to the problem.
A spokesman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the country was collaborating with other countries, including Australia, on its four agenda items for the June 17–20 summit in New York.
According to the spokeswoman,
“President Macron would like this potential recognition to be part of a broader political framework that allows progress to be made, both in addressing Israel’s regional and international concerns integration and in establishing a Palestinian state.”
“We are aware that Australia has a strong affinity for this issue and is firmly committed to it, and our goal is to get as many states on board with these objectives as possible.”
Australians were “contending with the organising countries and partners ahead of the conference,” according to a representative for Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong. The spokesman stated,
“The two-state solution conference plays a significant role in advancing the political, economic, and security issues that must be addressed in order to implement a durable and lasting two-state solution.”
In line with Wong’s remarks from last year, the spokesperson stated that Australia no longer sees recognition of a Palestinian state as only occurring at the conclusion of negotiations but rather as a way to advance the two-state solution.
