Sarah Basford Canales
The Guardian / December 4, 2024
Vote marks a change to the nation’s official stance held for more than two decades.
Australia has split with the US and voted with 156 other countries at the UN to demand the end of Israel’s “unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.
The vote marks Australia’s return to the position for the first time in more than two decades.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, said the Albanese government’s departure from the position of recent Australian governments had “sold out” the Jewish community for Greens votes in western Sydney and the city’s progressive inner west suburbs.
A total of 157 UN member countries, including Australia, the UK and Canada, voted to support the resolution. Eight, including Argentina, Israel and the US, voted against it. Seven others abstained.
James Larsen, Australia’s ambassador to the UN, said Australia would support the resolution, titled the “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”, for the first time since 2001 to reflect a desire for international “momentum” towards achieving a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
“A two-state solution remains the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence, the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples,” he told the general assembly meeting.
The resolution demands Israel “comply strictly with its obligations under international law”, referring to an international court of justice ruling in July this year which ordered Israel to end its occupation. It also rejects any attempt by Israel at “demographic or territorial change” in the Gaza Strip.
It also supports plans for a 2025 high-level international conference aimed at devising and implementing a two-state solution.
A spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said while Australia was a “constructive middle power”, it looked to achieve the best outcomes possible at the UN.
“We don’t always get everything we want. But if, on balance, we believe the resolution will contribute to peace and a two-state solution, we will vote for it,” the spokesperson said.
“On our own, Australia has few ways to move the dial in the Middle East. Our only hope is working within the international community to push for an end to the cycle of violence and work toward a two-state solution.”
In another major shift on Australia’s voting record on the issue in the UN, Australia abstained on a resolution relating to resources given to an office for Palestinian rights within the UN.
Australia has voted against the resolution since 2003.
Larsen said Australia could not move beyond an abstention due to the resolution devoting too many resources to a “one-sided perspective” of the conflict.
“UN divisions, such as this one, must do better,” Larsen said.
Sarah Basford Canales is a political reporter for Guardian Australia, based in Canberra
