ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing increased criticism from his Israeli counterpart this week as the Federal Government is poised to recognise Palestinian statehood.
For months, Albanese has refused to rule out recognising Palestine and these latest developments indicate that the process is being fast tracked to align with the United Kingdom, Canada and France, who last month announced plans to recognise Palestinian statehood.
The move comes as support nationally for recognition, according to YouGov, has increased to over 4 in 5 Australians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has labelled the decision as ‘shameful’ and ‘weak’ in a statement to the world’s media this morning.
“Anthony Albanese is only doing what is popular and what the majority of people who vote for him want,” said the statement.
“Which is shameful. Doing what people want, as a government, shows weakness. Some decisions are unpopular, like flattening an entire nation and then preventing them from getting what they need to survive, take bravery and leadership,”
“When leaders bow to public pressure, bad things happen. The war will only continue because of actions like this. Does he not care?”
The Advocate reached out to the Prime Minister’s Office for comment but have yet to receive a reply.
More to come.
