Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. On this day 75 years ago the world committed to a Palestinian state and Israel. However, 75 years later, Palestinians do not have their state. Palestinians deserve a future of hope and that their tomorrow be better than their today. Labor believe the conflict is a matter that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties. That is why we have reaffirmed Australia's previous, longstanding and bipartisan position that Jerusalem is a final-status issue that should be resolved through peaceful negotiations, not arbitrarily grasped for short-term domestic political gain. However, I know that the contention remains the building of settlements on Palestinian land. While they are benignly called settlements, under international law these settlements are illegal, and they are deliberately and strategically placed in positions to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. There is a UN Security Council resolution calling for Israel to stop these illegal settlements, but the illegal settlements continue to grow. The UN day of solidarity has been in place for nearly 50 years. Our nation voted in favour of the resolution on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. We did this because Australia supports the resolution's reaffirmation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and recognises the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state. (Time expired)