CANBERRA, Nov 15 (NNN-AAP) – Australia’s decision to vote in favour of permanent Palestinian sovereignty, at the United Nations (UN), was a step towards a two-state solution, the government said.
Australia yesterday joined over 150 countries in backing a UN committee resolution, to recognise the permanent sovereignty of Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and of the Arab population in the occupied Syrian Golan, over their natural resources.
Australia had previously abstained or voted against the permanent sovereignty resolution since it was first introduced to the UN in 2003.
Addressing the vote today, Jason Clare, Australia’s minister for education, said, it was about building momentum towards a two-state solution.
“What this is about is building momentum to a two-state solution. We need to end the killing and start the talking,” he told Seven Network television.
“This is a vote by more than 150 countries to build momentum, to build two countries behind secure borders where people can live in peace rather than what we see at the moment,” he said.
A spokesperson for Penny Wong, Australia’s minister for foreign affairs, said that, Australia does not agree with everything in the resolution but that the vote reflects international concern about Israel’s actions.
It came after Australia, in May, voted in favour of granting Palestinian observers full membership of the UN, and in Dec, 2023, voted in favour of a ceasefire. The U.S. voted against both of those propositions, as well as, yesterday’s draft resolution.
Australia also yesterday, voted in favour of a second draft resolution, calling on Israel to assume responsibility and pay compensation to Lebanon for its role in a 2006 oil spill.– NNN-AAP
