Australia Breaks with Allies
What Australia’s Recognition of a Palestinian State Means for Israel and U.S. Policy
Australia plans to announce recognition of Palestinian statehood at UN General Assembly, joining UK and Portugal, despite Trump administration's objections. U.S. warns of consequences.
A senior U.S. official has revealed that Australia is set to announce its unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state today at the United Nations General Assembly.
This move would make Australia the third Western country to take such a step, following similar declarations expected from the United Kingdom and Portugal.
According to the U.S. official who spoke to The Times of Israel, this decision is going forward despite objections from the Trump administration. "We told them it’s not helpful," the official stated, adding that Australia's justification for the move was based on "transparently domestic considerations."
The Australian Embassy in Jerusalem has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The U.S. has made its opposition to such actions clear. President Donald Trump has voiced his disapproval of countries recognizing a Palestinian state, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that Israel could retaliate with the annexation of Judea and Samaria. When asked about potential U.S. responses to these countries, the senior official noted that "planned measures are under consideration."