WELLINGTON (NZ): Australia will recognise a Palestinian state, PM Anthony Albanese said on Monday, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signalling they would do so. His remarks followed weeks of urging from within his cabinet to recognise a Palestinian state amid growing criticism over suffering in Gaza.Australia’s govt has also criticised plans announced in by Israeli PM Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Albanese told reporters after a cabinet meeting Monday that Australia’s decision will be formalised at the UNGA in Sept. The acknowledgement was “predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority,” Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian govt, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. Netanyahu on Sunday criticised Australia and other European countries that have moved to recognise a Palestinian state. “To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole … is disappointing and I think it’s actually shameful,” he said.In neighbouring New Zealand, foreign minister Winston Peters said Monday his govt “will carefully weigh up its position” on recognising a Palestinian state before making a decision in Sept. “New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if,” he said.
