Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese Marches Cautiously Towards Palestinian Recognition

Albanese needs to be seen doing something about Palestine

Pro-Palestine protesters are seen during the Palestine Action Group’s March for Humanity in Sydney, Sunday. Flavio Brancaleone/AAP Anthony Albanese is marching cautiously towards Palestinian recognition, writes political columnist MICHELLE GRATTAN. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been putting it succinctly, declaring it’s a question of when, not if, Australia recognises Palestine as a state. Michelle Grattan. It’s a line Foreign Minister Penny Wong …

Anthony Albanese marches cautiously towards Palestinian recognition

Australia has little influence on what's happening in the Middle East but the Australian public is increasingly horrified by the images of the humanitarian crisis.

Grattan on Friday: Anthony Albanese marches cautiously towards Palestinian recognition

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has been putting it succinctly, declaring it’s a question of when, not if, Australia recognises Palestine as a state. It’s a line Foreign Minister Penny Wong used more than a year ago. This week Wong was sounding impatient. “The reason for urgency behind recognition is this. There is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the world does not act,” she said. For the government, recognition is as much about do…

Anthony Albanese calls Mahmoud Abbas

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he reiterated Australia’s call for the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, as well as a “permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages”. According to a readout of the phone call, Prime Minister Albanese also “reinforced Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution because a just and lasting peace depends upon it”. Presiden…