Israeli ambassador to Australia says recognition of Palestinian state ‘weakens the cause’ of peace

Amir Maimon, the Israeli ambassador to Australia, says in a statement that Canberra’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state “undermines Israel’s security” and ultimately “weakens the cause” of peace.

“Peace is built by ending terror, not rewarding it,” Maimon writes. “By recognizing a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap, and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel’s security, derails hostage negotiations, and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence.”

Maimon notes that just last month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese “set clear conditions for recognizing a Palestinian state, renouncing violence, freeing hostages, and establishing credible, accountable governance. He emphasized 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.”

The ambassador stresses that the Australian 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. Rewarding those who use terror as a political tool sends the dangerous message that violence brings political gains.”

He accuses Australia of elevating “the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organization, while weakening the cause of those working to end violence and achieve genuine, lasting peace.”