Palestine and Israel

John Kilcullen

(For the history see my 2011 talk to a service club,  "The Israel/Palestinian Conflict: How did it begin? Will it ever end?")

Some years ago, in the early years of the Obama administration when things seemed more hopeful, I suggested (see pages below) that Australia, the US and other nations should offer to recognise Palestine as a state and support its admission to the UN (via art.4 of the UN Charter), as a full member, as soon as --
(1) a newly-elected Palestinian government
(2) undertook to comply with the obligations of international law, and
(3) produced a credible plan for controlling its territory.
This was an alternative to the approach being followed at that time, according to which international recognition of Palestine would be at the end of a "peace process" of bilateral negotiation between Israel and the Palestinians -- a process that gave Israel a veto, which it would always use. The alternative approach I then advocated meant that, whatever position Israel took, the US and other countries would recognise Palestine (after the three conditions were met), and recognition would be followed by negotiations between the states of Palestine and Israel (see here).

That approach seems impossible now, after the attacks of October 7 and the destruction of Gaza. It is very clear that the Israeli government will use overwhelming military force to prevent the formation of any Palestinian state, even to prevent Palestinian elections. It seems to me now that the (rather distant) goal should be a single multi-cultural state of Israel/Palestine, within the borders of League of Nations mandated Palestine. This would mean (1) incorporating all of the former League of Nations mandated Palestine, including what are now "the occupied territories" together with what is now Israel, into a single state (maybe with a double name, "Israel/Palestine"), (2) giving full and equal political rights to everyone living within that state, and (3) establishing suitable institutions and laws to enable all cultural groups to live together (perhaps like Canada's Charter). The first step might be to allow Israel to annex the Palestinian territories. To achieve (2) might require UN Security Council action backed by strong sanctions, such as were used to end apartheid in South Africa.

But the immediate goal must be cessation of the death and destruction that Israel and West Bank settlers are inflicting in Gaza and the West Bank. Stopping this requires, I believe, strong action, including the threat of military action, from the UN Security Council (see email to Senator Wong). This requires a change in the attitude of the United States, since the US would use its veto in support of Israel. Australia should be working to persuade President Trump that support for Israel is no longer (if it ever was) in the interest of the US. Meanwhile Australia and other countries should bring to bear against Israel whatever sanctions they can.

The attack on Gaza (and settler attacks in the West Bank) will not be stopped by recognising a state of Palestine as as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution (which seems to be current Australian government policy). There is no point in "recognising" a state that does not exist. Recognising it will not bring it into existence. It has been recognised for years by 140 out of 193 UN member states, and that has made no difference. Israel absolutely rejects the possibility of a "two-state solution". A state of Palestine never will exist, because Israel will use military force to prevent it from coming into existence. See my comments on recognition.

But even if a Palestinian state were eventually possible, that would not stop the death and destruction going on NOW.

It is not true that Australia is too small and insignificant a country to do anything about the actions of Israel and the US in Palestine. Without US money, armaments and diplomatic support, the government of Israel could not continue its present conduct. Australia is supposed to be one of America's best allies. The Australian Government is pouring money into the US via AUKUS, the US has bases in Australia -- do they after all take no notice of what Australian governments say? In any case, the United Nations was designed so that even a small and insignificant country can put its concerns about world peace before the security council, without needing the permission of powerful countries. Australia should not do anything to save the US from the embarrassment of using its veto.

It is also not true that Israel/Palestine is "distant" from Australia: Indonesia and Malaysia are neighbors who care about Palestine, many residents of Australia care. If Australia is a multi-cultural country citizens cannot be expected not to care about what happens to people in other parts of the world.


Pages on Palestine and Israel

Most recent:

Messages to Senator Wong and other Parliamentarians (17 October 2024, etc.)

Justifying Israel's Actions in Gaza (August 2025)

Recognition of a state of Palestine (August 2025)

President Herzog visit (25 December 2025)

Segal report and Australian Universities (March 2026)


Earlier:

Emails to Kevin Rudd. 2006-7

A "Kosovan Solution" for Palestine  (Real Clear World, 18 Feb 2009)

Two States Now: The Case for Unilateral U.S. Recognition of Palestine, (World Politics Review, 11 May 2009).

Palestine: Another Approach (World Politics Review, 20 Jan 2010. Longer version.)

The Israel/Palestine Conflict: How did it begin? Will it ever end?  2011 [The misery in Palestine is a legacy of the British Empire.]

Recognition of a State of Palestine  30 Jan 2013 (paper handed to Foreign Minister, Bob Carr)

Palestine: The Next Few Months are Critical (Eureka Street,  7 July 2014)



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