Australia has voted to support a UN resolution calling on “Israel [to] bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible”.
Australia previously abstained from voting on a draft version of the resolution earlier this year.
Australia’s ambassador to the UN James Larsen said the vote “reflects our determination that the international community again work together to build momentum towards… a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East”.
Resolution
On Tuesday evening (local time), members of the UN met at its headquarters in New York to debate a resolution on the “peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”.
The resolution “demands that Israel comply strictly with its obligations under international law” and “bring an end to its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)”.
The resolution also “reaffirms the vision of the two-state solution”.
This would involve the OPT becoming the “independent and sovereign State” of Palestine, “living side by side, in peace and security with Israel, within secure and recognised borders”.
157 nations voted in favour of the resolution, and eight (including the U.S. and Israel) voted against it.
Larsen said: “Australia’s vote today… returns Australia to the position it took until 2001.”
Comments
A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told media: “Australia approaches UN resolutions to try to achieve the best outcomes we can… If, on balance, we believe the resolution will contribute to peace and a two-state solution, we will vote for it.”
Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham said the vote meant the Government had “abandoned a key democratic ally in Israel”.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said: “The Prime Minister has abandoned Israel… because [the Government] want to achieve domestic votes here.”
