Israeli official dismisses Australia's Palestinian state recognition as peace
Israel's foreign ministry criticized Australia for recognizing a Palestinian state. It said this removes leverage to negotiate peace.
Aviv Erza is the deputy director general for Asia-Pacific affairs at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Aviv Erza told Australian journalists that Australia's recognition of a Palestinian state last September makes peace harder to achieve.
Aviv Erza said: 'If the big prize has already been given, there is no chance of getting them back to negotiations.' Aviv Erza's criticism targeted the Albanese Government.
As Israel prepares to vote on Tuesday, no significant Jewish-led political party supports a separate Palestinian state. A recently arrested Palestinian activist said he wants a single nation, not two states.
He called the two-state solution 'obviously dead and physically impossible'. Israel's election reflects deep divisions over the 2023 Hamas invasion and the subsequent war.
No single party is expected to win a majority. So coalition negotiations will follow.
Why it mattersIf Israel shifts further to the right and the two-state solution collapses, Australia's diplomatic stance becomes outdated. Palestinian sovereignty chances also get worse.
AustraliaAustralia's foreign policy position on the Middle East may need rethinking if Israel's government solidifies opposition to Palestinian statehood.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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