NEW YORK

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended his government’s decision Sunday to recognize the state of Palestine after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the move as “an absurd prize for terrorism.”

“Australia has put forward a position in recognizing Palestine consistent with what has been a longtime bipartisan position in Australia. We support a two-state solution,” he said, speaking to reporters at the UN in New York.

Albanese noted that Australia played “a positive role” when the UN created the state of Israel in 1948, stressing that “the creation of two states was what was envisaged.”

He called for an end to the current bloodshed, saying: “The cycle of violence must end. Hamas can play no role in a future Palestinian state. But Australia is also very clear that we want to see an end to the loss of innocent life, whether it be Israeli or Palestinians.”

The prime minister also called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of the hostages and the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza to address “the humanitarian catastrophe that’s unfolding there.”

He emphasized that lasting peace requires “moves towards the long-term solution” so that “Israelis and Palestinians (can) live side by side in peace and security going forward.”

Earlier, Albanese announced that “effective today, Sunday the 21st of September 2025, the Commonwealth of Australia formally recognizes the independent and sovereign State of Palestine” in a statement shared on the US social media company X’s platform.

He said the move “recognizes the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own” and comes alongside similar decisions by Canada and the UK as part of a “coordinated international effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution.”

The same day, Netanyahu criticized the recognition announced by Australia, Britain and other countries, describing it as “an absurd prize for terrorism.”

A high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution will be held in New York on Monday.

More countries, including France, are expected to officially recognize the state of Palestine during this week’s high-level meeting.

But regardless of how many nations recognize Palestinian statehood, full UN membership still hinges on approval from the UN Security Council, where the US holds veto power.

In 2012, Palestine was granted non-member observer state status at the UN.