“To move the peace process forward.” Australia hints at the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state

Australia – Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that recognizing a Palestinian state might help move the stalled peace process forward and confront extremist forces in the Middle East.

She added that “recognition of a Palestinian state, which can only exist side by side with a secure Israeli state, will not only provide the Palestinians with an opportunity to realize their aspirations,” but “it will also strengthen the forces of peace and undermine extremism.” This will weaken Hamas, Iran and its other allies in the region.”

Western countries have always considered that official recognition of the Palestinian state comes as a result of the peace process with Israel.

The United States, Australia and most European Union countries have said they want to recognize such a state one day, but not before thorny issues such as the status of Jerusalem and a final agreement on borders are resolved.

Wong considered that “the failures of this approach on the part of everyone over the decades – such as the refusal even on the part of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to address the issue of a Palestinian state – cause great frustration,” adding that “the international community is now studying the issue of a Palestinian state as a means to achieve a two-state solution.”

Britain, Ireland, Malta, Slovenia, and Spain touched on the idea of ​​recognizing a Palestinian state.

In 2014, Sweden, which has a large Palestinian community, was the first country in the European Union to recognize such a state.

It was preceded by six other European countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Romania.

Source: AFP