Australia finally agrees to recognise Palestine, but this won’t feed the starving or stop the bombs
Australia finally agrees to recognise Palestine, but this won’t feed the starving or stop the bombs | Australian Greens Skip to main content Search Get Involved Join Donate Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Get Involved Join Donate Search Our plan Toggle Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action Policy principles & aims Our team Toggle Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Media releases Take action Toggle Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Our movement Toggle About the Greens Become a member Jobs Green Magazine All news Australia finally agrees to recognise Palestine, but this won’t feed the starving or stop the bombs 2025-08-11 The Albanese Government moving to join the vast majority of the world in recognising the State of Palestine is a well overdue step, but it fails to meet the moment.
It must be accompanied by sanctions and ending the two-way arms trade with Israel. The right of Palestinians to statehood is a fundamental right that the Australian Government has denied for too long. As the genocide in Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank continue, the world is calling for direct material action, not a future promise for a long-standing right.
The Greens are part of a growing call for Australia to impose the same sanctions on Israel as we have imposed on Russia for its illegal war. This includes individual sanctions on the Israeli Security Cabinet, an end to the two-way arms trade, as well as sanctions on goods that support Israel’s illegal war. The continued export of weapons to Israel, including parts of the F-35 fighter jet, military grade steel and other equipment, makes the Albanese Government complicit in Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
So does the Labor’s refusal to cancel almost $2 billion in contracts with Israeli arms manufacturers. Ending this trade would be a far more powerful step towards a just and lasting peace in Palestine than Labor’s announcement today. Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said “The Greens have supported, and will continue to support, freedom and statehood for the Palestinian people as part of a just peace for the conflict.
Recognition should have happened decades ago. “What Australia has done today is take a tiny step away from a shrinking and discredited minority of states, centred on the US and Israel, to join the overwhelming majority of nations that already recognise Palestine. “Genocide is not a communications problem, an escalating series of statements will not end it.
By contrast, ending the two-way arms trade as part of a comprehensive sanctions regime would have a significant impact. “If Australia stopped exporting F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel, over time, Israel’s fleet of 40 F-35 fighter jets, being used to bomb Gaza, would be grounded. “This announcement, while welcome, will not meet the overwhelming calls from the Australian public for the Government to take material action.
“Speaking to Palestinians, hearing from people on the ground in Gaza, they are asking for countries like Australia to meet their obligations under international law and do whatever they can to stop the bombing, the killing, the starvation and the occupation. "Millions of Australians have taken to the streets, including 300,000 last weekend in Sydney alone, calling for sanctions and an end to the arms trade with Israel, the Albanese Government is still ignoring this call.
“In the face of a genocide the moral and legal test is, are you doing everything you can to stop it? Today’s announcement by Labor fails that test.” Facebook for the Australian Greens YouTube for the Australian Greens X for the Australian Greens Instagram for the Australian Greens Bluesky for the Australian Greens Privacy Members website Your safety Contact us Our plan Tax the 1% Tackle the cost of living Healthcare for all Fix the housing crisis Strong climate action In your language 2025 policy platform Policy principles & aims Our team Federal MPs State/territory MPs Officeholders Federal portfolios Federal media releases Take action Volunteer Donate Issues & campaigns Upcoming events Greens Shop Leave a bequest Green Magazine All news Our movement About the Greens Become a member Jobs Members website State/territory parties Contact us The Greens acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.
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