Key events
Former NZ PM Helen Clark says New Zealand and Australia starting to ‘lag behind’ on Gaza
Helen Clark, the former prime minister of New Zealand, said the recent statement from Australia and her own country condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza do not go far enough.
Clark spoke to RN Breakfast, saying Australia and New Zealand were both starting to “lag behind” other key partners when it came to the recognition of a Palestinian state. She said:
Look, Canada has condemned outright the latest Israeli Security Cabinet decision to reoccupy Gaza City, which is catastrophic, building on an already terrible situation. The most Australia and New Zealand have been able to stir themselves to do is to strongly reject the decision. …
The time is now. Recognition of the state of Palestine sends a very strong message to Israel that its attempts to dodge away from a two-state solution are simply not acceptable.
Australia strongly rejected Israel’s plans to expand Gaza campaign last week
For context – this is Australia’s position on Palestinian statehood. The foreign minister, Penny Wong, released a joint statement on Saturday alongside her counterparts in eight countries and that of the EU.
We are united in our commitment to the implementation of a negotiated two-state solution as the only way to guarantee that both Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity.
A political resolution based on a negotiated two-state solution requires the total demilitarisation of Hamas and its complete exclusion from any form of governance in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role.
The signatories strongly rejected Israel’s plans to occupy Gaza City, saying the effort would only “aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians”.
Netanyahu says Australia would do the same in Gaza under similar circumstances, decrying debate over Palestinian state as ‘shameful’
Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Australia would take similar action If there were a catastrophe like Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack “right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney”, issuing a forceful defence of the country’s plans to take military control of Gaza City. Netanyahu responded to questions about the upcoming efforts, which he described as a necessary step to end Israel’s war with Hamas:
The real reason that this conflict persists is not because of the absence of a Palestinian state, but the persistent Palestinian refusal to recognise a Jewish state. … I think the solution to this problem is that the Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves in the places where they live, and none of the powers to threaten Israel.
Netanyahu went on to lambaste Australia and European countries considering the recognition of a Palestinian state amid growing disapproval over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israel leader said other nations were “falling into a rabbit hole”, saying debate around such recognition was “shameful”.
To have European countries and Australia march into that, march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it. This canard is disappointing, and I think it’s actually shameful. But it’s not going to take, it’s not going to change our position.
He added:
I think we’re actually applying force judiciously, and they know it. They know what they would do if right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney you had this horrific attacks. I think you would do it, at least what we’re doing, probably maybe not as efficiently and as precisely as we’re doing it.
Good morning
Hello, and happy Monday. It’s Nick Visser here to take you through the news as we get into another week. Here’s what’s on deck:
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said it is “shameful” and “disappointing” Australia and countries in Europe were marching into a “rabbit hole” when it came to recognition of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu said international calls to do so were not going to change Israel’s position, adding the country had “no choice but to proceed with its plan” and “finish the job”.
Many Victorians reported seeing a bright meteor light up the sky last night. Residents between Bendigo and Ballarat shared footage of the phenomenon as a fireball streaked across the night sky around 8pm on Sunday.
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