Australia news as it happened: Albanese announces plan to recognise Palestinian state; Jewish, Palestinian groups, opposition, Netanyahu slam Australia

Thanks for joining me on a day largely dominated by one story: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will recognise a state of Palestine in September at the United Nations, joining the UK, France and Canada among other nations in this regard.

Here are six key quotes:

Anthony Albanese: “Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong: “I spoke to [US Secretary of State Marco Rubio] ahead of the announcement, and as a matter of diplomatic courtesy, advised him, with our intention to announce.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley: “This decision… puts Australia at odds with the United States of America, our most important ally and the most consequential player in the conflict with Gaza. [It] does not appear to make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid support the release of hostages or end the terrorist group Hamas.“

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry: “Today’s announcement acknowledges the need for all the hostages to be released and for Hamas to be disarmed and removed from power. It accepts that the Palestinians and the Arab states have to recognise and make peace with Israel. The major flaw ... is that it relegates these conditions to the status of a mere promise to be fulfilled at some future time, and says nothing about what will happen if those conditions are not met.”

Nasser Mashni, the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network: “Let’s be very clear, what I want today is for Palestinians not to be slaughtered. What I want for Palestinians, and it is part of the Palestinian non-negotiable, is for … accountability for that slaughter, for an end to occupation and apartheid, and for Palestinians to have the opportunity to enact our right to return. It’s not my job, or Anthony Albanese’s to determine how Palestinians might seek their self-determination.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (before the announcement): “To have European countries, and Australia, marching to that rabbit hole [Palestinian statehood], just like that, falling right into it … is disappointing, and I think it’s actually shameful, but it’s not going to change our position. I know what they’d do if right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had these horrific attacks, I think you would do probably what we’re doing.”

There may be more reactions tonight and tomorrow, so continue to keep an eye on this blog for all the latest from my colleagues.

On Tuesday, it’s likely at least some local attention will turn to the Reserve Bank of Australia, as it meets to once again decide whether to cut interest rates.

We’ll be back soon with more live coverage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is speaking after a cabinet meeting as Australia moves to recognise a Palestinian state.

Thanks for joining me on a day largely dominated by one story: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will recognise a state of Palestine in September at the United Nations, joining the UK, France and Canada among other nations in this regard.

Here are six key quotes:

Anthony Albanese: “Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong: “I spoke to [US Secretary of State Marco Rubio] ahead of the announcement, and as a matter of diplomatic courtesy, advised him, with our intention to announce.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley: “This decision… puts Australia at odds with the United States of America, our most important ally and the most consequential player in the conflict with Gaza. [It] does not appear to make the world a safer place, expedite the end of the conflict, deliver a two-state solution, see the free flow of aid support the release of hostages or end the terrorist group Hamas.“

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry: “Today’s announcement acknowledges the need for all the hostages to be released and for Hamas to be disarmed and removed from power. It accepts that the Palestinians and the Arab states have to recognise and make peace with Israel. The major flaw ... is that it relegates these conditions to the status of a mere promise to be fulfilled at some future time, and says nothing about what will happen if those conditions are not met.”

Nasser Mashni, the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network: “Let’s be very clear, what I want today is for Palestinians not to be slaughtered. What I want for Palestinians, and it is part of the Palestinian non-negotiable, is for … accountability for that slaughter, for an end to occupation and apartheid, and for Palestinians to have the opportunity to enact our right to return. It’s not my job, or Anthony Albanese’s to determine how Palestinians might seek their self-determination.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (before the announcement): “To have European countries, and Australia, marching to that rabbit hole [Palestinian statehood], just like that, falling right into it … is disappointing, and I think it’s actually shameful, but it’s not going to change our position. I know what they’d do if right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had these horrific attacks, I think you would do probably what we’re doing.”

There may be more reactions tonight and tomorrow, so continue to keep an eye on this blog for all the latest from my colleagues.

On Tuesday, it’s likely at least some local attention will turn to the Reserve Bank of Australia, as it meets to once again decide whether to cut interest rates.

We’ll be back soon with more live coverage.

The Jewish Council of Australia says any action to recognise Palestine must also involve action to “stop Israel’s intensifying genocide in Gaza”.

The group, which is critical of Zionism and of efforts to conflate all criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism, is the latest to release a statement on the announcement today.

“Recognition must be combined with accountability,” human rights lawyer Sarah Schwartz, the JCA’s executive officer, said.

“If Australia truly supports Palestinian self-determination, it must end all military co-operation with Israel and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide and deliberate starvation of Gaza.

“You cannot endorse Palestinian statehood with one hand while supplying parts of the weapons that destroy it with the other.”

Earlier today the Australian Palestinian Advocacy Network and the Greens also called for sanctions on Israel in their reactions to the government’s announcement.

Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, has accused the Albanese government of symbolism rather than acting for a genuine peace process, and said the recognition of a Palestinian state rewarded Hamas and undermined Israel’s security.

“Only days ago, Prime Minister Albanese set clear conditions for recognising a Palestinian state, renouncing violence, freeing hostages, and establishing credible, accountable governance,” the ambassador said in a statement.

“He emphasised that these steps were necessary before recognition could occur. Today, however, the Australian government has abandoned those conditions and proceeded with recognition for symbolic reasons rather than genuine progress toward peace.

“Let us be clear: this decision will not change the reality on the ground. Peace is not achieved through declarations; it is achieved when those who have chosen terror abandon it and when violence and incitement end.”

The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the Albanese government’s promise to recognise a Palestinian state next month in New York.

The authority’s foreign minister, Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, said the move helped to preserve the two-state solution. She said the authority was moving to fulfil its promises of reform, which were one reason Australia moved on recognition.

But Shahin suggested there were conditions on the authority’s vow to hold elections for the first time in almost two decades.

“President [Mahmoud] Abbas said the commitment is within a year but, of course, once the environment is conducive, once Gaza is able to be part of the election process, once Jerusalem is able to be part of the election process, we have drafted a plan,” Shahin told the ABC.