Australia Engages with Paris on Middle East Peace Ahead of UN Summit

Australia is actively engaging with Paris on the prospects of Middle East peace, particularly concerning Palestinian statehood, ahead of a significant UN-backed summit in New York. French President Emmanuel Macron is leading an international push for recognition, emphasizing it as both a “moral obligation” and a “political necessity” for regional stability, and is lobbying Western nations, including Australia.
The upcoming conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia from June 17 to 20, is generating considerable buzz, with speculation that France may use the occasion to formally recognize Palestine, thereby attempting to reinvigorate the stalled peace process. While 147 of the 193 UN member states already recognize Palestine, Australia, the UK, and the US have not. However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s recent statements suggest a potential shift in Australia’s long-held position, indicating that recognition could now be seen as a momentum-building tool.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its engagement with international partners, including Australia, on its four key priorities for the summit: recognition of a state of Palestine, normalization of regional relations, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and disarmament of Hamas. A French spokesperson highlighted that Macron envisions this recognition as part of a broader political dynamic, fostering both Palestinian state establishment and Israel’s enhanced regional and international integration, acknowledging Australia’s strong commitment to these objectives.
Further signaling a potential policy recalibration, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently delivered his strongest rebuke yet of Israel’s aid blockade in Gaza, calling it an “outrage.” This aligns with Macron’s call for European nations to adopt a “harder collective stance” on Israel if the humanitarian crisis persists. Conversely, Australia’s opposition maintains a firm stance, arguing that Palestinian statehood should only be recognized following a comprehensive peace process that includes the release of all hostages held by Hamas, warning against “rewarding terrorism.”