Spain, Australia hints it could recognise Palestinian state.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong. Courtesy image

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said that this move was being taken to accelerate the momentum towards peace between the two sides.

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong indicated the possibility of the island country considering recognising a Palestinian state, which is a shift in policy as the West is continually urging for a two-state nation to end the Israel-Hamas crisis that has been ongoing for the past six months.

Wong agreed with a speech by UK foreign secretary David Cameron, who said that the recognition of a Palestinian state would make the two-state solution, offered by the United Nations, irreversible.

Wong said that this move was being taken to accelerate the momentum towards peace between the two sides.

Australia has earlier said that the recognition of a Palestinian state could only be a part of a two-state solution deal brokered with Israel. However, the stance seems to have changed.

Speaking at the Australian National University, Wong said, “A two-state solution is the only hope to break the endless cycle of violence. The failures of this approach by all parties over decades – as well as the Netanyahu government’s refusal to even engage on the question of a Palestinian state – have caused widespread frustration.”

Several international peace efforts over the years have tried to solidify the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine in order to solve the longstanding conflict. However, for more than a decade, before the current war between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel broke out, the talks have stood stalled.

Palestinians’ longstanding aspiration for an independent state in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East War, remains steadfast. This state would also encompass Gaza.

The foreign affairs spokesperson of Australia’s opposition Simon Birmingham said, “The Albanese government’s argument to pre-emptively recognise a Palestinian state puts statehood before security, and will be seen as a win by the terrorists who initiated the current horrific conflict.”

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here