‘Positive, constructive meeting’ with Israeli FM: Wong
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has held a “very positive, constructive meeting” with her Israeli counterpart after Australia’s position returned to referencing “occupied Palestinian territories”.
Penny Wong
The government is strengthening its opposition to settlements, affirming them as illegal under international law.
Speaking from New York on Friday, Senator Wong described her meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen as “very positive” and “constructive”.
“Obviously, I reiterated Australia’s friendship with Israel, I reiterated our long standing position that we wish to see a just and enduring two-state solution,” she told reporters.
“We believe that’s in the interests of both Israeli and Palestinian peoples.
“We’ve expressed publicly our concern about some of the developments in Israel, but it was a very constructive and cordial meeting.”
Labor’s move to switch Australia’s position to that of past governments matches the United Nations Security Council resolutions and the United Kingdom, New Zealand and European Union.
The government maintains the position that Jerusalem is a final status issue that should be resolved as part of any peace negotiations between Israel and Palestinians.
This reversed the Morrison government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Australia’s embassy is in Tel Aviv.
AAP
The government is a prisoner of the anti-zionist Left who are only interested in the destruction of Israe. The FM has mislead the Jewish community.before and change is not expected. She even did not prepare.her previous Ambassaor.to Israel about the Government’s about face..
Such chutzpah! What business is it of hers to express concerns about ‘some of the developments in Israel’? Perhaps Eli Cohen could have expressed some concern about Wong having anything to say given Australia’s real colonial history, as averse to the trumped up charge against Israel.
And she (or, ‘we’ as in the Labor Party) wants to see the blah blah blah … ‘enduring two state solution’, which has now become as antiquated as a typewriter is to a computer, superseded by the fact that the Palestinians have never been interested in it and are still not interested in it. Their solution is no Jewish State at all; it’s a pity Mr. Cohen didn’t explain that to our Penny.
That cordial and convivial meeting was a meaningless one unless other hidden truths that might have been worthwhile were expressed. Please spare us the smooth story of polite diplomacy,