Sydney (TDI): Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Thursday that the recognition of a Palestinian state by Australia is no longer a question of possibility, but one of timing.
Speaking with ABC, Chalmers made it clear that he personally supports the idea and believes formal recognition is eventually unavoidable.
“It’s really about when we take that step, not if we do,” he said during the interview.
While he welcomed the recent wave of international support for Palestinian statehood, Chalmers avoided putting a date on when Australia might follow suit.
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He acknowledged that there are still serious issues that must be resolved first, including what happens with hostages still held in Gaza, and making sure that Hamas isn’t part of any future governing structure.
His comments came just ahead of a major announcement from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said his government plans to recognize Palestine this September during the UN General Assembly.
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Speaking again later on Sky News, Chalmers noted that Australia has already been holding discussions with several countries who are considering similar steps. “We’re talking to partners who share our values,” he said.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
