Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, PM Albanese says
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a press conference in Canberra on Monday. Photo: Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP via Getty Images
Australia will recognize a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday.
The big picture: The announcement that follows pledges from the leaders of countries including Canada and France to also recognize Palestinian statehood at September's UN General Assembly came soon after it emerged that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had spoken with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who stood alongside Albanese when he revealed the plan.
Driving the news: "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said at a Monday briefing in Canberra, Australia.
The latest: Wong confirmed to reporters that she spoke with Rubio on Sunday "ahead of the announcement and as a matter of diplomatic courtesy" to advise him of Australia's "intention to announce" the statehood recognition plans.
- Representatives for the State Department didn't immediately respond to Axios' requests for comment on this. All State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce's statement on the talks said was that they discussed "issues in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, along with global efforts to combat antisemitism."
State of play: Several countries have in recent months either recognized Palestinian statehood or announced plans to do so.
- Among them is the U.K., whose Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would recognize the state of Palestine in September unless Israel takes steps to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza and commits to a renewed peace process with the Palestinians.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who adamantly rejects the idea of a Palestinian state, said in response to Starmer's announcement that recognizing a Palestinian state "rewards Hamas' monstrous terrorism."
- Rubio has previously called moves to recognize a Palestinian state before Hamas releases the remaining hostages from the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel "clumsy" and "irrelevant."
More from Axios:
- U.S. slams France's plan to recognize Palestinian state
- Inside Democrats' growing push for Palestinian statehood
- More countries recognize Palestinian state as Israel-Hamas war rages on
- White House envoy Witkoff meets Qatari prime minister to discuss plan to end Gaza war
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
