Penny Wong gets it terribly wrong
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s National Statement to the United Nations General Assembly on 28 September reveals her ignorance about the 100 years-old unresolved Jewish-Arab conflict in former Palestine:
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“The UN system is where the world comes together to agree and uphold standards and rules; to protect all of the world’s peoples and the sovereignty of all nations.
These rules always matter – never more so than in times of conflict – when they help guide us out of darkness, back toward light.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, December 5, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Ms Wong is obviously unaware of article 80 of the UN Charter which preserves the right of the Jewish people to reconstitute the Jewish National Home in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and Gaza under Articles 6 and 25 of the 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine.
The continuing flagrant violation of article 80 by the UN in failing to recognise this right vested in the Jewish people has been a major stumbling block to the United Nations achieving a lasting peace.
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“Australia shares the frustration of the great majority of countries, more than 77 years since the General Assembly adopted Resolution 181: a plan for two states side by side – one Jewish, one Palestinian.”
The two states were actually one Jewish and the other Arab – not Palestinian. No persons identified as “Palestinians” in 1922 or 1947. They were created and defined for the first time in the 1964 PLO Charter.
The non-binding Resolution 181 dated 29 November 1947 spoke of creating two states in Western Palestine (22% of Palestine) located west of the Jordan River
The territory of Palestine located east of the Jordan River in which no Jews lived (78% of Palestine) had been granted independence on 25 May 1946 by Great Britain and renamed The Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan
The Jews accepted Resolution 181 but the Arabs rejected it.
Six Arab armies invaded Western Palestine on 14 May 1948 after Israel declared its independence.
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“Australia wants to engage on new ways to build momentum, including the role of the Security Council in setting a pathway for two-states, with a clear timeline for the international declaration of Palestinian statehood.
Because a two-state solution is the only hope of breaking the endless cycle of violence – the only hope to see a secure and prosperous future for both peoples.
To give the Palestinian people the opportunity to realise their aspirations through self-determination.”
The two-state solution – creating a new state between Israel and Jordan – has been pursued by the United Nations for 29 years without success. It was rejected by Israel’s Knesset 68 to 9 on 18 July.
It is time to think out of the box.
The Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution (HKOPS) published on 8 June 2022 in Saudi Arabia calls for the merger of Jordan, Gaza and part of the West Bank into one new territorial entity to be governed by Jordan’s current Hashemite rulers. This solution trashes the UN’s failed two-state solution.
Given Gaza’s uncertain status HKOPS can be implemented in stages with the Palestinian Arabs living in the West Bank achieving self-determination in a newly-created Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine formed by redrawing the international border between Israel and Jordan.
HKOPS has been totally ignored by the United Nations and Australia. Time both focused their attention on HKOPS.
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“We know Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we seek to be a constructive voice for peace and the upholding of international law, including the protection of civilians.”
Australia is not upholding international law while it fails to recognise articles 6 and 25 of the Mandate for Palestine and article 80 of the UN Charter.
Care to respond Minister?
David Singer is a Sydney lawyer and a foundation member of the International Analysts Network
