No Palestinian state, Netanyahu says, as Gaza demilitarisation takes centre stage

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply rejected renewed international discussion of Palestinian statehood. Read more

‘Betrayal’: former PM condemns Palestine recognition

One of Australia’s longest-serving prime ministers has condemned government plans to recognise a Palestinian state, slamming it as a “betrayal” of international law. Read more

Hamas ‘death culture’ beyond comprehension, says founder’s son

Hamas’s embrace of “death culture” is beyond comprehension for much of the world, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the eldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, the founder of the terrorist group, told JNS on Tuesday. Read more

Victorian shadow minister says Hamas praise for PM is “shocking”

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday evening, David Davis MP, accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of being “praised by Hamas” and warned that Australia’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state will inflame tensions in one of the country’s largest Jewish population centres.

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PM defends Palestine recognition after US ‘disgust’

Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine was made in the interest of its citizens, the prime minister has said, after a US official decried the move. Read more

NZ Jewish Council urges caution on premature recognition of Palestinian state

The New Zealand Jewish Council has reiterated its long-held position that the only viable resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is a negotiated two-state solution — one that results in a secure and recognised Israel alongside a peaceful and democratic Palestinian state, reached through direct talks and backed by mutual recognition and security guarantees. Read more

PM slams Hamas as senior leader denies praising him

Anthony Albanese has warned against trusting Hamas propaganda as an official from the terrorist group denies reports it backed Labor’s “political courage”. Read more

As Abbas eyes UN statehood bid, Ben-Gvir demands immediate measures to overthrow PA

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday vowed to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take “immediate” action aimed at “toppling the Palestinian Authority” in response to a report that PA President Mahmoud Abbas is weighing a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood in September. Read more

Australia, France leaders discuss crisis in Gaza

The leaders of Australia and France have made plans to meet at a United Nations gathering, where Palestinian statehood and the crisis in Gaza will be major issues. Read more

New Zealand holds firm on Palestinian statehood recognition: “no reward for terror”

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed his government will not follow the United Kingdom’s lead in conditionally recognising a Palestinian state, declaring the time is not right for symbolic moves that risk legitimising terrorism. Read more

UK, Germany, Italy join Australia in rejecting Macron’s ‘Palestine’ statehood plan

The governments of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Australia announced over the weekend that they are not planning on backing France’s initiative to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September. Read more

Israel threatens economic retaliation as Palestinians seek unilateral statehood

Moves by several European countries to recognize Palestinian statehood have emboldened Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to push for unilateral statehood at the UN, but risk an Israeli backlash that would likely bankrupt the Palestinian Authority. Read more

PM backs two-state solution after statehood debate

Anthony Albanese has reiterated calls for a two-state solution in the Middle East, following comments from Foreign Minister Penny Wong suggesting the government could recognise Palestinian statehood. Read more

UN and Biden continue to ignore Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine

The passage of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2720 on 22 December signals that the UN and President Biden will not be playing any constructive role in resolving the future of Gaza and its population after the Israel-Gaza War is ended. Read more

King Abdullah & Abbas reject Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine

Jordan’s King Abdullah and PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas have broken their 15 months long silence by finally rejecting the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution – first published in Saudi Arabia on 8 June 2022 – that shredded the failed two-state solution pursued by Saudi Arabia and the Arab League since 2002 (Arab Peace Initiative). Read more

Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine & Saudi-Israel peace deal on hold

Hopes of a peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel are on hold following a report in the Wall Street Journal that – according to US officials – the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have agreed on the broad contours of a deal for Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel in exchange for concessions to the Palestinians, U.S. security guarantees and civilian nuclear help. Read more

MBS: Is Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution dead or alive?

Following the announcement that Saudi Arabia and Iran intend resuming diplomatic relations within the next two months – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister – Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS) – needs to urgently answer this one question: “Is the Hashemite Kingdom of Palestine solution published on 8 June 2022 by your confidant Ali Shihabi dead – or is it still alive?” Read more