Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

Australia reinstates the use of 'Occupied Palestinian Territories'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Website
  • 8 Aug 2023 18:48
3 Min Read

Penny Wong has announced that the government will recognize Palestinian areas occupied post-1967 by "Israel" according to their status under international law.

  • x
  • Australia  reinstates the use of Occupied Palestinian Territories.
    Bill Shorten, then-leader of Australia's Labor Party (C) introduces then-Labor Senator Penny Wong (L) to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) during their meeting in Sydney, Australia, on February 24, 2017 (AFP)

The Australian government has decided to reintroduce the term "Occupied Palestinian Territories" when referring to the occupied West Bank in Palestine, ahead of the upcoming Labor Party's national conference next week.

"The Australian government is strengthening its opposition to settlements by affirming they are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong says.

Moreover, it is expected that certain members of the Australian Labor Party will raise additional questions about Australia's stance on Palestinian statehood, urging the government to take further steps in recognizing Palestine's right to statehood.

"In adopting the term we are clarifying that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, were occupied by Israel following the 1967 war and that the occupation continues and reaffirms our commitment to negotiate a two-state solution," the minister of foreign affairs clarified.

Wong said the reinstated terms follow UN security council resolutions that are also accepted by "key partners including the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the European Union."

In fact, as per Wong's statements, despite the reinstatement of the said terminology, it does not seem that the Labor Party will take any further steps to enhance the position of Palestine and the Palestinian people in the international community,

Related News

Netanyahu allegedly signals readiness to end Gaza war in first

Israeli forces raid West Bank villages amid settler violence

Read more: 'Israel' informs US about settlement units plans in West Bank: Axios

Since 2014, Australian government officials have largely refrained from using the terms "occupied" or "occupation" when referring to the Palestinian Territories, despite continuing support for relevant United Nations resolutions.

This shift in language began during the early tenure of the former Coalition government. In 2014, then-Attorney General George Brandis argued against describing "East Jerusalem" as "occupied", claiming that the term carried negative connotations and did not further the peace process.

'Occupied Palestinian Territories' for Palestine, committed friendship to 'Israel'

The top Australian diplomat said the government had engaged with the Israeli ambassador on the issue reaffirming that it is a "committed friend of Israel." This raises question marks regarding the intent of the Australian government and other Western administrations, including that of the United States. 

She added that the government will continue to condemn "all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians," indicating that Australia will continue to deny Palestinians their right to resist the occupation of their land and label their fight for freedom as "terrorism".

The two previous Labor national conferences in 2018 and 2021 called upon "the next Labor government to recognize Palestine as a state," however, no progress has been made on that front.

Moreover, Wong refused to commit to a timeframe outlining the process of recognizing the state of Palestine, which is yet another sign of Australia's inability to actually move against the normative Western policies in regard to "Israel".

Read more: Israeli Court annuls petition demanding removal of 'Homesh' outpost

  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Penny Wong
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Australia

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
In this June, 12, 2021, file photo, former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani sits in a meeting in Tehran, Iran.
Politics

Iran strategically foiled Israeli-US scheme, Advisor Shamkhani says

Sheikh Naim
MENA

Let no one think they can subjugate Hezbollah: Sheikh Qassem

Screengrab from a video published by the al-Qassam Brigades shows confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam releases video of deadly ambush with Israeli forces in Gaza

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, Rafael Grossi, attends an IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, Austria, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran bars IAEA chief Grossi from nuclear facility inspections

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS