A motion to recognise a Palestinian state by the Australian Greens has been voted down 80 votes to five.
On May 29, Greens leader and Melbourne MP Adam Bandt put the motion to the Australian House of Representatives. It was seconded by Griffith Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather and supported by an Independent member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie.
Mr. Bantdt criticised Labor for not supporting the motion.
“Labor just voted against recognising the state of Palestine,” Mr. Bandt said in a statement following the motion’s dismissal.
“They joined Peter Dutton, instead of the 146 other countries who have taken this crucial step for justice.”
Mr. Bandt told Parliament he believed that recognising Palestine would be a move against what he called a “horrific invasion” of Gaza by Israel, which he said should have been stopped “eight months ago”—immediately after Hamas invaded Israel.
“But the next best time is now,” he said.
“There is a reason other countries around the world right now today are shifting their position to recognise the state of Palestine.”
However, Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts told Parliament the Greens were playing “wedge” politics by setting up the vote to fail because procedural motions were usually opposed in the lower house.
“Wedge politics only divides the community. We gain nothing from the Greens seeking to reproduce this conflict in our own community,” Mr. Watts said.
“If they were sincere, the Greens would have something of substance to say about ending the cycle of violence and achieving lasting peace.”
Mr. Watts said Palestinian statehood could benefit the Middle East, but only when a reformed Palestinian authority that supported peace was able to govern.
“On the question of recognition, we have made clear that we will be guided by whether recognition will advance the cause for peace,” he said.
Mr. Bandt has been a fierce objector to the state of Israel, demanding that Labor expel the Israeli ambassador, sanction the Netanyahu government, and end military trade with the state.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin made the comments after Mr. Bandt refused to back a two-state solution for Israelis and Gazans.
“Bandt and his colleagues have been crystal clear in calling for the creation of a state of Palestine,” he said in a statement.
“They have taken every opportunity to accuse Israel and its leaders of every crime under the sun. Yet Bandt could not express support for a Palestinian state alongside Israel instead of in place of it.”
The Israel-Hamas war was triggered when Hamas invaded Israel on October 7 last year, killing 1,200 Israelis, and kidnapping hostages—125 of which have still not been returned.
Israel has consequently conducted military operations in Gaza.
Israel claimed the impact on civilians was unintentional, and was investigating the cause of a blaze that led to the deaths.
