Anthony Albanese preparing the ground to recognise Palestine | 7.30

Key Concepts:

• Recognition of a Palestinian state by Australia.
• Two-state solution (Israel and Palestine).
• Impact of the Gaza conflict on international relations and domestic communities.
• Labor Party's historical stance and internal debates on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• The role of Hamas and the need for a demilitarized Palestinian state.

1. International Pressure and Domestic Impact:

• The ongoing suffering in Gaza is accelerating shifts in attitudes towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict globally.
• Britain's Karmama is increasing pressure on Israel, indicating the UK will recognize the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless Israel takes steps to end the situation in Gaza.
• World leaders are focusing on the impact of the conflict on their domestic communities.
• In Australia, a man was arrested for allegedly torching Melbourne's Adas Israel synagogue, highlighting the conflict's impact on social cohesion.
• The need to protect innocent individuals from harassment due to their identity (Jewish or Arab/Muslim) is emphasized.

2. Australia's Potential Recognition of a Palestinian State:

• Prime Minister is preparing for a potential historic shift: Australia will recognize a Palestinian state.
• The timing and method of recognition are still under consideration.
• The crisis in Gaza and Israel's international isolation are weakening resistance to recognition within the Labor Party.

3. Voices and Perspectives:

• BM Abdo, a new government MP, whose family fled Q8 to Jordan during the first Gulf War, vowed to push the Palestinian cause.
• Abdo: "We belong to a people who are always the first to be made strangers in their own homes simply because we were Palestinian."

4. Labor's Historical Stance:

• Recognition of a Palestinian state has been a long and difficult journey for Labor.
• Former Minister Craig Emerson recalls Bob Hawk's visit to Jerusalem in the 1980s and his belief in a two-state solution.
• Hawk is regarded warmly within the Jewish community for his relationship with Israeli leaders.
• Emerson argues Hawk was the first to put Labor on the path this prime minister is following.

5. Internal Debates and Past Actions:

• Labor has a history of internal disagreements over support for the Palestinian cause.
• In 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard faced a cabinet revolt over her initial plan to vote against Palestine being given observer status at the UN.
• Craig Emerson was among those who talked her out of it.
• Last year, Australia backed a UN motion to grant observer status to the Palestinian delegation.

6. Conditions and Considerations for Recognition:

• The government believes recognition should be put on the table early rather than at the end of a peace process.
• The Prime Minister is waiting for the right moment to act, aiming for maximum positive impact.
• The government signed a joint statement with 14 other countries welcoming promises by the Palestinian Authority that it accepts a future state would be demilitarized.
• The need for Israel to be recognized by states around the Middle East is emphasized.

7. Opposition's View:

• The opposition argues that recognizing Palestine before peace negotiations would be a mistake.
• They assert that Hamas should have no role in a future Palestinian state.

8. Prime Minister's Perspective:

• In a caucus meeting, the Prime Minister quoted Nelson Mandela: "a thing can seem impossible until it's done."
• He acknowledges the difficulty of determining when and how to make such a historic step.

9. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The video discusses the increasing international pressure on Israel due to the Gaza conflict and the potential for Australia to recognize a Palestinian state. It explores the Labor Party's historical stance on the issue, internal debates, and the conditions under which recognition might occur. The video also highlights the need for a two-state solution, a demilitarized Palestinian state, and the opposition's concerns about recognizing Palestine before peace negotiations. The Prime Minister's cautious approach, aiming for maximum positive impact, is emphasized.