Outrage as Australia backs Palestinian sovereignty in UN vote shift
The Albanese government’s decision today to support United Nations resolutions affirming Palestinian sovereignty and holding Israel accountable for environmental damage has sparked fierce criticism from Jewish leaders, opposition members, and others.
Penny Wong
They argue that this shift in foreign policy undermines Australia’s longstanding positions and threatens key diplomatic relationships, particularly with the United States underscoring a growing divergence between Australia and both the Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration regarding Israel.
The two resolutions, both non-binding, relate to contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. One resolution affirms the “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinians over territories occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, effectively supporting Palestinian claims to resources in those areas. The other resolution assigns responsibility to Israel for a 2006 oil spill off the Lebanese coast, attributed by the UN to an Israeli airstrike on Lebanon’s Jiyeh Power Station during the Israel-Lebanon conflict.
This departure from Australia’s abstention stance since 2011 drew condemnation from Jewish community leaders, who argue that it rewards anti-Israel sentiments at the UN. Peter Wertheim, Co-CEO of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called the resolutions part of an “obscene annual ritual” where “some of the world’s worst human rights abusers get to pass judgment on the only free democratic country in the Middle East.” He criticized the resolutions as a way of “rewarding non-compliance with previous agreements” by the Palestinians and “encouraging intransigence and extremism in the region.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton condemned the Albanese government’s decision, asserting that it betrays Australia’s allies and risks destabilizing the country’s foreign policy. “This decision distances us from our traditional partners and threatens to undermine Australia’s foreign policy credibility,” Dutton told The Australian. “Our longstanding position has kept us aligned with allies who understand the complexities of the Middle East and the importance of stability. Now, the Albanese government is jeopardizing that foundation.”
Dr. Colin Rubenstein, Executive Director of the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC), also criticized the government’s decision as reinforcing the UN’s “one-sided obsession with Israel.” Rubenstein argued, “These resolutions do nothing to advance peace but instead encourage ongoing hostility by falsely framing Israel as the primary obstacle.” He called the vote inconsistent with “Australian values and the bipartisan consensus that has guided our foreign policy toward Israel for decades.”
Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, questioned the motivations behind the government’s shift, suggesting it was politically driven rather than principled. “The Albanese Government claims to base its foreign policy decisions on principle, not politics. Yet it cannot justify the sudden and dramatic shift,” Leibler said, underscoring that the new stance abandons nearly two decades of bipartisan support for Israel.
Sunshine Coast MP Andrew Wallace, Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, went further, calling the decision “reckless.” “One-sided resolutions advance division, not peace, and this vote is a clear step backward in the fight for stability in the Middle East,” Wallace stated. “If the government were serious about peace, it would support Israel’s mission to eliminate Hamas and Hezbollah, rather than emboldening hostile forces.” Wallace argued that Australia’s stance should support allies that promote stability, not “reward the agendas of those hostile to Israel.”
“One-sided resolutions advance division and political games, not peace and reconciliation. If the Government was serious about building peace in the Middle East, it would support Israel’s mission to eliminate Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthi. It would list Ansar Allah as a terror group. It would declare Southern Lebanon as a prohibited conflict zone. And it would demonstrate courage as Australian Jews face the most disgraceful antisemitism in generations,” said Mr Wallace who is also the Chair of the Australian-Israel Allies Caucus.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham described the Albanese government’s position as a “broken promise” that contradicts pre-election pledges of bipartisan support for Israel. “The government has dropped or changed longstanding Australian positions, undermining Australia’s reputation for consistency,” Birmingham stated, calling the decision a departure from principles of “fairness and stability” that previously guided foreign policy.
The shift comes after a series of Australia’s decisions this year that diverge from the U.S. on Israel-related matters, raising questions about the durability of Australia’s alliances and its future role in Middle Eastern diplomacy.
