Australia Defies U.S. Opposition, Considers Recognizing Palestine
(MENAFN) Australia will not be swayed by foreign influence in its foreign policy decisions, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared Monday, firmly asserting the country's independence amid speculation over U.S. backlash if Canberra moves to recognize Palestinian statehood.
"We are a sovereign nation. Australia makes our decisions as a sovereign nation," Albanese told reporters in Canberra, as quoted by media.
His remarks followed a massive pro-Palestinian demonstration in Sydney on Sunday that drew tens of thousands of participants.
Albanese described the march as “peaceful and was an opportunity for people to express their concerns about what is happening in Gaza,” and sources suggest his government may be preparing to take a landmark step toward recognizing Palestine—though the timing and approach remain under consideration.
Currently, Australia does not formally recognize a Palestinian state. However, recent commitments from international partners including France, Canada, and the United Kingdom signal growing momentum ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, where recognition of Palestine may be tabled.
These diplomatic pledges have sparked tensions with Washington, where the U.S. has voiced frustration over its allies’ moves toward Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile, Albanese is reportedly weighing a direct phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The potential outreach comes in the wake of Sydney’s "March for Humanity" over the iconic Harbour Bridge, which amplified domestic calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ramped up pressure on the Labor government to officially recognize Palestine.
Authorities estimated the rally turnout at 90,000, but organizers from the Palestine Action Group Sydney claimed as many as 300,000 people were present, including high-profile figures like WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
In light of the planned outreach to Israel, human rights advocates have renewed calls for accountability. Critics urged Albanese not to engage diplomatically with Netanyahu, who is the subject of an active arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Albanese should be "discussing with Netanyahu his one-way trip to ICC to face war crimes & crimes against humanity charges," said Rawan Arraf, a lawyer and executive director of the Australian Centre for International Justice.
Arraf referenced the ICC’s arrest warrant against Netanyahu, issued last November, in connection with alleged war crimes committed in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 2023 and widespread destruction has devastated the territory.
“The PM (Anthony Albanese) must not give legitimacy to an accused war criminal,” she added.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
