Explainer: Penny Wong’s speech about Palestinian statehood

A plea to end the “endless cycle of violence” in the Middle East is what prompted Penny Wong to stand up and float that Australia could embrace Palestine statehood ahead of a two-state solution.

It was a small but noticeable shift in language and sparked a furious response from the opposition and pro-Israel groups.

But what does it all mean? And can we expect Australia to come out and declare it recognises a Palestinian state anytime soon?

What did Penny Wong say?

The Foreign Minister used an address to an Australian National University national security conference to canvas a discussion that is already taking place in the international community.

She said the community was now considering whether a timeline of Palestinian statehood should be moved up.

She argued recognition of a Palestinian state would undermine Hamas, which she stressed would have no role in a recognised state, and there was no path to peace and security for Israel without a two-state solution.

“We are looking at … a pathway beyond the immediate conflict, that’s what the discussion is amongst the international community. We have to work out how it is we break the endless cycle of violence,” she said.

Senator Wong quoted British Foreign Secretary David Cameron who said the UK was considering the issue, including at the United Nations.

Why does this matter?

The previous view was that embracing such recognition could not come until after a two-state solution was achieved.

Labor’s national party platform, adopted at last year’s conference, says it supports the recognition and right of Israel and Palestine to exist as two states within secure and recognised borders

It also called on the Australian government to recognise Palestine as a state.

NED-10448 What is Hamas Explainer

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to downplay the significance of the remarks.

He essentially told reporters there was nothing to see here considering his government, and those before it, had supported a two-state solution.

ANU’s National Security College senior adviser Ben Scott, who was in the room when Senator Wong delivered her address, agreed.

He likened it to Senator Wong floating a “trial balloon” and even went as far as saying the speech was “anti-climatic”.

“There was a sense also that perhaps we were going to get an announcement that Australia would recognise a Palestinian state and we didn’t quite get there,” he said.

“I think it’s mostly a symbolic move.”

Her comments came in the days after the government appointed a special adviser to review the Israel Defence Forces’ killing of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six colleagues. “It did not go unnoticed – even if they weren’t directly connected, Mr Scott said.

“I think the pendulum is swinging against Israel … And if it wasn’t this, it might have been something else.”

How have the remarks been received?

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said fast-tracked recognition for Palestinian statehood was a “dangerous approach”.

NED-11787-Australian killed in Gaza mapZionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler agreed.

“Any talk of recognition of Palestinian statehood in such close proximity to the 7 October attacks is entirely premature and will be seen as a reward for those attacks,” he said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion criticised the speech as “not the way to treat a friend and ally of Australia, such as Israel”.

But Senator Wong said it would be wrong to suggest recognition could be viewed as a reward for the cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7 last year.

“The point I’m making is that ultimately peace, security for Israel will only be achieved if we have a Palestinian state alongside Israel, the Israeli state,” she said.

Griffith University Associate Professor Olivera Simic said the shift in Senator Wong’s language was to be expected in current circumstances.

“Saying that Israel breached international humanitarian law in many respects does not mean supporting Hamas. Not at all,” she said.

“It just means articulating facts that some don’t want to hear.”

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More than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, since the conflict was triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel last year.

The attack left 1200 people dead and more than 250 people taken hostage.

So where to now?

Ultimately, the timing of any potential recognition was left deliberately vague by both Mr Albanese and Senator Wong.

The UN is considering the Palestinian Authority’s application to become a full member.

It is a non-member observer state at the United Nations, the same status as the Holy See.

Senator Wong was coy on if Australia would vote in favour for Palestinian statehood if it came to a vote at the United Nations.

So essentially: don’t expect any major changes here anytime soon from Australia’s perspective, unless other countries suddenly shift their position also.