Australia has abstained from a recent United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories within 12 months.
Australian Ambassador to the UN, James Larsen, expressed that while Australia supports many of the resolution's principles, the country chose to abstain due to the resolution’s scope and demands, which they felt went beyond the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) advisory opinion.
The resolution, which was adopted with 124 votes in favor and 14 against, received abstentions from 43 countries, including Australia, the UK, Canada, and Germany.
The resolution urged Israel to “end without delay” its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and included calls for sanctions against those maintaining this presence and for halting the importation of products from Israeli settlements.
Despite the abstention, Larsen highlighted Australia's commitment to peace and adherence to international law, noting that the country was already working towards the resolution’s objectives.
Larson expressed “great disappointment” that the proposed amendments to the resolution were not accepted, noting, "We are concerned that, by making demands of the entire UN membership that go beyond the scope of the advisory opinion, the resolution distracts from what the world needs Israel to do.”
The Australian government has also recently shifted its stance on Palestinian statehood, now viewing recognition as a critical component of the peace process and the realisation of a two-state solution.
Larsen said the occupation “must be brought to an end, such that we see security for Palestinians, for Israel, and for the region.” for both Palestinians and Israelis and reiterated Australia's call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Criticism of the resolution came from various quarters, with some arguing that it could exacerbate conflict rather than promote peace.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry condemned the resolution as an invitation to ongoing conflict, while the Zionist Federation of Australia noted that Australia’s abstention distanced it from its ally, the United States, which voted against the resolution.
