Topics:  Palestinian recognition

 

E&OE

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, I think all Australians want to see the current chapter of tragedy in the Middle East come to an end as soon as possible. It began on October 7, 2023, with those tragic and brutal attacks by Hamas on Israel and Israelis and think Australians have had enough. They want to see it come to an end. But the preconditions necessary for a lasting peace are not in place. Those preconditions have been clear for a long time. Release of hostages, demilitarisation of Hamas, a commitment to peaceful coexistence and agreed forms and these are preconditions that have been widely agreed across the world and certainly in Australia. Now those preconditions are not in place and the Government hasn't made the case that those preconditions have been met are they conditions that the government will take into account before deciding whether or not to proceed with this? It seems not, but they are questions for the Government. What is very clear is we won't see a lasting peace without those preconditions being in place and they are not in place right now.

 

QUESTION:

 

The Prime Minister says that by recognising a Palestinian state, Hamas would be isolated because they don't want a two-state solution. What do say to that? 

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, I would say the risk here is that the Government is putting the cart before the horse. The risk here is that the Government is putting the cart before the horse. There’s over a long period of time been agreement that preconditions that I've laid out are absolutely necessary before we see recognition of Palestine and those preconditions are very reasonable. The release of hostages, the demilitarisation of Hamas, the recognition of Israel, agreement on borders. These are not new conditions, and this is why they are so essential. It seems to me the Government is moving away from those preconditions necessary for recognition of Palestine and that is a big shift in the position of the Government. Now we all want to see this tragedy come to an end. We really do. I mean it has been a tragic, tragic chapter that began on October 7, 2023. Tragic for Israel, tragic for the people of Gaza and the Palestinians. There's no doubt about that. But the preconditions necessary for a lasting peace have long been talked about and are still not in place.

 

QUESTION:

 

But do you think the defenders of Israel are also frustrated by the fact that Benjamin Netanyahu is talking about moving into Gaza, occupying it, taking the West Bank, the killing of five journos and cameramen just overnight. Does this speak of someone who does want to do a deal? 

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

The issue here that we're talking about is not the military strategy of Israel, it's the recognition of Israel. Now that's the issue at the moment and it's long been agreed that preconditions are necessary for that to be successful and to lead to a lasting peace. Those preconditions haven't been met. There are still hostages being held by Hamas and it is clear there is not agreement on borders. It is clear there is not a recognition of Israel by Hamas. The preconditions are not met and that is the crucial point here. 

 

QUESTION:

 

Do you agree with what the Government says that the way they're going about this by insisting that the Palestinian Authority should really be the ones governing this future state of Palestine. Do you agree that the way the Government's going about this does isolate Hamas? 

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, that remains to be seen. That remains to be seen. What we know is Hamas has not been fully demilitarised. What we know is they don't recognise Israel. What we know is they haven't released hostages and all of those are necessary preconditions for success here. We haven't seen those preconditions in place. Frankly, the risk here is this is rewarding terrorism. It's not getting to a lasting peace which we all want to see. There's no doubt about the objective here.

 

QUESTION:

 

But is it rewarding terrorism if the Government insists Hamas can't be involved?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, you know what? I didn't hear the Government's commitment today being conditional. I didn't hear that. I know there's things they want to achieve along the way but I didn't hear it being conditional and yet those

preconditions haven't been met.

 

QUESTION:

 

Well, they said their assurances had already been given but can I ask you...

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

But by who?

 

QUESTION:

 

By Mahmoud Abbas. By the Palestinian Authority.

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

And does he have the authority to make sure those things are all, those preconditions are all met? Is he able to ensure that hostages are released? Has he agreed, along with the Israelis, to borders? Is he able to ensure that Hamas is fully demilitarised? I don't think so.  I don't think so. So, the preconditions haven't been met.

 

QUESTION:

 

Can I ask you just in relation to comments by your colleague Andrew Hastie, do you agree that Israel has to unfold its ‘end game’?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, you know what, the discussion today is about the recognition of Palestine.

 

QUESTION:

 

It's all linked with respect. I'm asking you about your colleague’s comments. Do you think Israel has to come to the table and explain, particularly if we continue to show such great support for Israel what its end game is?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

My support is for a lasting peace in the Middle East. That's my support. My support is for the end of tragedy which began on October 7, 2023, and I want to see that come to an end. I think all the Australians want to see that come to an end. But we know there are preconditions necessary for the recognition of Palestine if we're going to have lasting peace and that's the focus of today.

 

QUESTION:

 

Would it be reasonable for Australia not to follow the rest of the international community here?

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, you know what's reasonable is to focus on an outcome that is going to achieve lasting peace and the preconditions necessary for that have not been met. The hostages have not been released, Hamas has not been fully demilitarised, Hamas does not recognise the state of Israel, and we do not have any commitment to peaceful coexistence and that is what we know is necessary for lasting peace. One more question.

 

QUESTION:

 

Penny Wong flagged she had given the heads up to Marco Rubio on this. Albanese is hoping that he secures a meeting with Donald Trump later this year. Could this impact the US relationship with Australia? 

 

ANGUS TAYLOR:

 

Well, you know what?  On a separate point, the US relationship with Australia is unbelievably important to peace in our region, in the Indo-Pacific.  We want to see the Prime Minister meet face to face with the President to ensure that that Alliance is strong into the future. That is a top priority.  We want to see it happen as soon as possible. We want to see a commitment to defence spending, getting to 3 % of GDP, and we want to make sure AUKUS can live alongside an appropriate level of funding of the rest of our military capability and right now that is not what's occurring and it's time for this Government to get its act together.

 

 

ENDS.