Albanese plays down US ‘disgust’ over Palestine recognition

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says there is disgust and disappointment in the Trump administration at the Albanese government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state, deepening the rift with Australia’s closest security partner.

Huckabee, a former Republican governor and major supporter of Israel, said he had spoken to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and both men were unhappy with the decision Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday.

“There is an enormous level of disappointment, and some disgust,” Huckabee said on the ABC’s 7.30 on Thursday. Huckabee, who led numerous evangelical tour groups to Israel before his appointment as ambassador, did not confirm the exact words used by Rubio or Trump, saying he would not reveal private conversations.

“I think it does express, though, the emotional sentiment, a sense of ‘You’ve got to be kidding. Why would they be doing this? And why would they be doing it now?’”

The comments build pressure on Albanese, who has already faced a storm of criticism this week after Hamas officials praised Australia’s decision to recognise a State of Palestine at a United Nations meeting in September.

Australia’s relationship with the United States has suffered a series of knocks since Trump reclaimed the presidency, including the lack of a meeting between him and Albanese and tension over defence spending. But the Resolve Political Monitor conducted for this masthead shows most people do not blame Albanese for the lack of a meeting, and Australia has the lowest tariff rate available for exports to the US.

Albanese played down the ambassador’s comments, saying Huckabee represented the United States in Israel, not Australia. The prime minister told ABC radio on Friday that his role was to represent Australia’s interests.

“Australians have been disgusted by what they see on their TV every night,” Albanese said.

“They were disgusted by the terrorist actions of Hamas on October 7, the slaughter of innocent Israelis, the taking of hostages and the ongoing holding of those hostages have outraged Australians, but Australians have also seen the death of tens of thousands of people.

“When you have children starving, when you have children losing their lives, with families queuing for food and water, then that provokes, not surprisingly, a human reaction.”

More than 60,000 Palestinians have died from Israel’s assault on Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, which is linked to Hamas.

Israel has defended its war in Gaza as a necessary measure to root out the terror group that massacred or kidnapped about 1500 people in October 2023, and blamed Hamas for Gazans’ suffering.

Almost 80 years of conflict, Albanese said, had to end, and recognition for Palestine would help build momentum for a two-state solution.

The move follows similar plans announced by France, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Trump administration has not appointed an ambassador to Australia, fuelling accusations that Australia is a low diplomatic priority for the White House.

On Thursday, Albanese warned the media about reporting Hamas propaganda after the office of one of the listed terror group’s co-founders issued a statement welcoming Australia’s decision to recognise Palestine. A Telegram post in the organisation’s name then disavowed the message.

“What that should be is a warning to the media of being very careful about the fact that Hamas will engage in propaganda because what is happening is the international community are united about isolating Hamas, about supporting a peaceful way forward,” Albanese said.

But two other senior Hamas officials confirmed the group welcomed recognition for Palestine by Australia.

Hamas media director Ismail Al-Thawabta, who is based in Gaza, told the ABC that Australia’s move to recognise a Palestinian state “reflects a growing global awareness of the necessity to end the injustice suffered by our people for decades”.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said Albanese’s position was a distraction from genuine progress towards peace via talks with the United States, which remains Israel’s most crucial ally.

“To see our prime minister stand up there and sound as if he has some sort of gotcha moment in response to the legitimate criticism that is coming at him from everywhere on this issue, by saying he’s found a statement from Hamas saying another statement by Hamas wasn’t correct ... is ridiculous,” Ley said on Sky on Thursday night.

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