On the eve on the UN International Day of Peace, I searched ministerial websites for media statements that might reflect the Australian Government’s commitment to this year’s theme “Building a Culture of Peace" but I found no indication that the Albanese Government has a vision of its role as a middle power working to support international law and prevent the ravages of militarism. Instead, there were various references celebrating AUKUS and increased military expenditure, but I could not locate any official recognition that the Australian Government marked 21 September as an important day in the UN calendar. Fortunately, we can rely on the non-government sector including “Religions for Peace”, “Raising Peace Festival” and other community organisations to ensure that International Day of Peace was recognised in Australia.

The UN Secretary-General Anthony Guterres in his official statement reminded all nations that, “Everywhere we look peace is under attack. From Gaza to Sudan to Ukraine and beyond, we see civilians in the firing line, homes blown apart ,traumatised terrified populations who have lost everything and sometimes everyone. The catalogue of this human misery must stop. Our world needs peace."

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau issued a formal statement reaffirming his nation’s commitment to peacekeeping and detailing Canada’s practical steps towards implementing the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda to ensure women’s participation in building an international culture of peace .

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could have timed his recent United States trip to attend the QUAD meeting to include an official visit to the UN in New York. Surely his advisers should have seen the importance of this opportunity for Albanese to speak at the UN General Assembly and interact with many world leaders. Instead, his itinerary included a tour of Philadelphia with Ambassador Kevin Rudd and a personal stopover with outgoing President Joe Biden. It seems unlikely that “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” was included in these discussions.

Had Albanese rescheduled his travel, he could have attended the emergency session of the UN General Assembly to hear an impressive debate focusing on international law as it must be applied to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine. A majority of speakers indicated their support for United Nations’ developed humanitarian law and the rulings of the International Court of Justice. Their speeches reflected detailed understanding of international law and their total rejection of Israel’s continued defiance of internationally agreed standards and protocols to respect global law making to guarantee peace and security.

The Irish Ambassador, Fergal Mythen, told the General Assembly:

“We welcome the draft resolution tabled by the state of Palestine. It is our assessment that it is consistent with the conclusion of the Court as set out in its advisory opinion, it is also a testament to the state of Palestine’s continued faith, under the most challenging of circumstances, in the multilateral system, faith in international law, faith in the Geneva Convention and faith in the UN Charter.” Ireland not only voted in favour, but also co-sponsored the resolution.

The Japanese delegation headed by Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki offered this explanation of their support for the vote: “First, as a country that values the rule of law, Japan attaches great importance to the International Court of Justice and its advisory opinions. Japan has been contributing to the work of the ICJ, including this advisory opinion, by participating in the proceedings where we elaborated on the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force. Second, as stated in the Advisory Opinion, Israel’s continued settlement activities are in violation of international law. Therefore Japan has been constructively involved in such discussion as a responsible member state."

The Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations, Arrmanatha Nasir, said: “International law is the basis of a stable global community and the world’s court has clearly proven that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is illegal." He pointed out that systemic apartheid, discrimination and injustice must end in Palestine, highlighting the importance of a political solution and a two-state solution. “The General Assembly must act in accordance with the International Court of Justice and the occupation must end.”

The Foreign Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters recognised that Israel had gone “far too far in defence” and after almost a year of war he believed “enough was enough". He said: “No matter what the justification for this disaster and tragedy is, it has to end, and we have to do the best we can to try and see that this misery is over."

However, Australia could not summon up the courage to vote with these world leaders, instead engaging in irrelevant semantics to excuse its ongoing failure to recognise genocide and war crimes committed by the state of Israel. Australia’s response at the Emergency Session of the General Assembly could have been led by Albanese finally adhering to international law, recognising and supporting the state of Palestine. Sadly, it was left to a diplomat to defend the indefensible by abstaining from the vote, reflecting Australia’s increasing irrelevance in the United Nations community.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong heads to the UN General Assembly next month, so there is still time for her to make a strong statement of commitment to international law and to the state of Palestine. But first she will have to assert Australia’s independence and ignore several so-called “like minded friends” who are certainly not demonstrating that we “share their values”.