Penny Wong, Labor accused of ‘trashing’ long-standing two-state solution to Israel and Palestine
Penny Wong and Labor have been accused by the Opposition of “trashing” the long-standing two-state solution approach Australia has taken to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In the wake of Senator Wong’s address to the UN’s general assembly on Saturday, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said the Government was “playing domestic politics” in calling for a timeline for a two-state solution.
“She’s trashing our decades approach to a negotiated two state solution in the Middle East... She’s actually wanting to recognise the state of Palestine before we’ve negotiated a settlement, and she’s calling for timelines to be put in place before conditions for settlement,” Senator McKenzie told ABC.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“The reality is that Hezbollah is incredibly active on that Lebanese Israeli border, continually attacking Israel.
“For our Foreign Minister to put timelines in place really opens the gate for those terrorist organisations to essentially run down the clock.”
In a TV interview, Senator Wong said the growing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon threatened further “regional escalation” folloiwing Lebanese Islamist militant group Hezbollah’s involvement.
The comments came after an Israeli air strike in southern Beirut on Saturday killed Hezbollah leader Hazzan Nasrallah.
“There is always the risk of even further escalation. We’ve been concerned about that for a long time, as have others in the international community,” she said on Sky News.
“We’ve been engaging with all the parties we can to urge de-escalation and restraint.”
Senator Wong said it was time to end the “cycle of violence” in the region.
“The end game should be peace and security in the region, peace and security for Israelis,” she said.
“That will require a two-state solution that is the only pathway to long term peace and security for both Israelis and for Palestinians.”
Senator Wong said the Israeli Netanyahu government needed to “listen to the international community”.
The comments came after she used an address to the United Nations to call for a “clear timeline” to end the conflict in Gaza.
“I would say to Israel, we want you to listen to the international community. It is true that Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation. It is true that they have not been complying with UN Security Council resolutions, but we see the horrific loss of life in Gaza. We see 11,000 children killed,” she said.
“The world does not want to see more civilian deaths. We have to find a different way to deal with the with the legitimate issues of concern in relation to the border.”
