Netanyahu Cautions Australia and Other Countries Against Recognizing Palestinian State

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The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has issued a warning following Australia’s decision to join Canada and the United Kingdom in formally acknowledging Palestine as an “independent and sovereign state.”

This announcement was made by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong outside the United Nations in New York City, where Albanese is set to speak at the General Assembly during the high-level leaders’ week summit.

Albanese and Wong expressed in a joint statement, “Australia recognises the legitimate and enduring aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish a state of their own.”

‘There will be no Palestinian state’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision was “rewarding terrorism” and vowed to respond.

“We doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria — and we will continue on this path,” he said, using the Biblical term for the West Bank.

“A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River. For years, I have prevented the establishment of this terrorist state despite tremendous pressure both domestically and internationally.

Netanyahu responded, “Our response to the latest effort to establish a terrorist state within our territory will be communicated after my return from the United States. Stay tuned.”

Israel’s foreign ministry said political gestures “aimed at a domestic voting audience” would “harm” the Middle East.

“Israel will not accept any detached and imaginary text that attempts to force it to accept indefensible borders,” spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said.

Asked about the Israeli response, Albanese said settlements were one of the reasons that led the world to act on recognition.

He noted ongoing settlement expansions in the West Bank and mentioned Israeli ministers who reject the concept of a Palestinian homeland, alongside the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

A man and a woman in a suit underneath a building.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are participating in high-level meetings at the United Nations in New York. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“We go back to the resolution that was carried by the parliament with support from all of the government parties after October 7 that called for the protection of innocent life, that calls for the implementation, of course, and the compliance with international law,” Albanese said.

“And we continue to be strong advocates. And what has happened is that the world is saying enough is enough. The cycle of violence must end.”

The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said recognition had the potential to open a political horizon and advance a two-state solution.

“Give peace a chance. Stop this insanity. Stop this genocide, allow peace to prevail. Save the lives of Palestinians and Israelis,” he said.

Mansour stated, “Saving hostages and prisoners is essential. Peace is far superior to war. Violence is undesirable, and I believe the Israeli population understands this as well. Two years have passed in efforts to eradicate the Palestinian people, yet success has been elusive.”

‘False hope’ for Palestinians

The decision breaks with decades of bipartisanship between Australia’s two major political parties.

Opposition leader Sussan Ley and the Opposition’s foreign affairs spokesperson, Michaelia Cash, issued a joint statement warning the government was giving in to “extortion” by Hamas, and this was a “hollow gesture” that gave Palestinians “false hope”.

The Opposition insists recognition must come at the end of a peace process, not during the conflict.

“Palestine has no established borders and no effective government,” it said in a statement.

“An inconvenient reality for the Albanese administration is that this recognition occurs while hostages remain captured in tunnels beneath Gaza, and as the Gaza Strip and its people remain under the control of the recognized terrorist group Hamas.”

At the same time, the government has expressed confidence in progress towards an internationally supported peace plan that would underpin rebuilding efforts in Gaza while ensuring Israel’s security.

They include continued public acknowledgement of Israel’s right to exist, democratic elections, and changes to financial operations, as well as the process of governing and within the education system.

“Terrorist organisation Hamas must have no role in Palestine,” the government statement said.

“Further steps, including the establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of embassies, will be considered as the Palestinian Authority makes progress on its commitments to reform.”

Recognition has already been signed off by the Australian cabinet and does not require ratification in parliament or a UN vote to take effect. It is now the official government policy.

The move to recognise statehood is in line with France, as well as the UK and Canada, but it puts Australia at odds with its closest security ally, the US.

Albanese is yet to meet US President Donald Trump face-to-face, and while no meeting has been locked in, both leaders will be in New York for this week’s international talks.