Accepting a two-State solution

July 5, 2024

I suspect Jenny Hocking misrepresents the positions of both the Greens and Senator Payman. Their opposition to the Government motion correctly recognises it for what it is – an attempt to delay as long as possible the recognition of Palestine.

If the Government were truly even handed, they would also propose a motion along the lines that ‘the House of Representatives support the recognition of the State of Israel, as part of a peace process, in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace’. Ie, set similar pre-conditions on the recognition of Israel. I doubt the Government would dare to do this. If one considers the arguments generally put forward against recognising the state of Palestine: • The borders of Palestine are not agreed. This is, of course, equally true of Israel. • There is no agreement between the two parties. Again, equally true of Israel. • We shouldn’t reward the tactics used by some Palestinians. Yet by not recognising Palestine, we are rewarding the tactics used by Israel.