Australia departs from US and Israel, supports new UN Gaza ceasefire resolutions
The UN motion was not supported by Israel or the United States.
Australia’s Labor government has once again diverged from allies the United States and Israel to endorse two pro-Palestinian resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.
The first resolution called for an “immediate, unconditional, and permanent” ceasefire in Gaza, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
A second resolution affirmed full support for the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and condemned legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset that banned and cut ties with the agency.
This resolution was backed by 159 nations, including Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it.
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Eleven countries, including the Netherlands, Georgia, Hungary, Austria, and Bulgaria, abstained from the vote.
Politicians Respond
Foreign Minister Penny Wong defended Australia’s stance in a post to X on Dec. 12, highlighting the significant number of countries supporting the ceasefire resolution.
“We desire for this war to cease and the hostages to return home.”
In a press conference on Dec. 11, Albanese was questioned about the possibility of a shift in Australia’s position at the U.N. vote.
“I have consistently supported the state of Israel for a long time. However, I also believe that Palestinians should have the right to fulfill their legitimate aspirations.”
On the other hand, Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson accused the Labor government of “gaslighting” the Jewish community regarding the U.N. General Assembly vote and reports of a leaked audio in Lilyfield.
“The Prime Minister was misleading the Australian Jewish community while standing at the Sydney Jewish Museum and supposedly expressing concern about antisemitism.”
In a post to X following the vote, Paterson stated, “these are the votes the PM pretended to know nothing about at his press conference at the Sydney Jewish Museum yesterday, despite being caught boasting at a private function that people would be “upset” by Labor’s stance on Israel at the U.N. again.”
Former Labor Minister Mike Kelly urged the Albanese government to halt virtue signaling at the U.N. in a recent interview.
Kelly was appalled by the assault on the Jewish synagogue in Melbourne, describing it as sickening.
