ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT

Peace Inc: Trump’s audacious Gaza start-up

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 1-Oct-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the Trump administration’s proposed 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, and urged Hamas to accept it. US President Donald Trump said the deal will bring "eternal peace to the Middle East", but warned that Israel will have his "full backing" to finish the job of destroying Hamas if the terrorist group does not agree to the peace plan. Hamas negotiators have indicated that they are willing to study the plan "in good faith" and provide a response. Amongst other things, Hamas would be required to release its remaining hostages within 72 hours and lay down its weapons, while there would be a phased withdrawal of Israel forces from Gaza. A ‘Board of Peace’ would be established to oversee the administration of Gaza; it would be chaired by Trump.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Coalition vows Palestine policy reversal once in power

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 7 : 13-Aug-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended his government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state at the ­United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in September. Albanese says it will send a message to Israel that "enough is enough", and he is confident that the international community can prevent Hamas from playing any role in a future Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Opposition leader Sussan Ley says the shadow cabinet has resolved that a future Coalition government would revoke recognition of a Palestinian state; she argues that this must only occur at the conclusion of a proper peace process.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Government sends strongest signal yet on Palestinian recognition

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Original article by Matthew Knott
Brisbane Times – Page: Online : 6-Aug-25

It has been revealed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed the issue of Palestine in a conversation with the United Nations’ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday. Albanese has also talked to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and the two leaders committed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in September. This has prompted growing speculation that Australia will join other nations in formally recognising Palestinian statehood at the meeting. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned that there may be no Palestine left to recognise unless progress is made on a two-state solution.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNITED NATIONS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

Innocents for terrorists: the price of freedom

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Original article by Jacquelin Magnay
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 21-Jan-25

Should the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas remain intact over the next 42 days, it will see the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Over 230 of those prisoners are serving life sentences for conducting or taking part in deadly attacks against Israel, and who will be permanently exiled in either Qatar or Egypt. The other prisoners to be released include a further 500 Palestinian prisoners who are serving sentences for ‘security crimes’, along with almost 1,000 others who have been detained since the 7 October attacks by Hamas.

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Trump offers hope, but PM and Wong turn on Israel again

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Original article by Ben Packham, Joanna Panagopoulos, Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 4-Dec-24

US president-elect Donald Trump has given Hamas an ultimatum to release its remaining Israeli hostages. Trump has indicated that Hamas will be "hit harder than anybody has been hit" before in the history of the US if the surviving hostages are not freed before his inauguration on 20 January. Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that the federal government is likely to vote against Israel on three key resolutions in the United Nations’ General Assembly.

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UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UNITED NATIONS. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

G20 goes soft on Russia

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 20-Nov-24

The final declaration of the G20 leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro has failed to mention the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks on Israel. The declaration merely stated "deep concern" regarding the "catastrophic humanitarian situation" in the Gaza Strip and the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. It also emphasised the need for an "unwavering commitment" to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while not mentioning the remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza or the roles of Hamas and Hezbollah in the current hostilities. The final declaration also did not specifically refer to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but noted the "human suffering and negative added impacts of the war" in Ukraine. The G20 leaders also did not commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

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GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)

Israeli parliament votes to ban UNRWA from Israel within 90 days

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Original article by Andrew Roth
The Guardian – Page: Online : 30-Oct-24

The US and British governments have expressed concern after the Israeli parliament voted 92-10 to ban the United Nations Relief & Works Agency from operating in the country. The ban is slated to take effect within 90 days, and will prohibit the UNRWA from conducting any activity or providing any service in Israel, including Gaza and the occupied West Bank. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini says the vote will set a dangerous precedent, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warns that the ban will jeopardise the international humanitarian response in Gaza.

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UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST, GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Labor in a two-state daydream

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Original article by Ben Packham, Sarah Ison, Geoff Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 11-Oct-24

Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie says the public debate on the current conflict in the Middle East has been hijacked by extremists. The Labor stalwart has also criticised the federal government’s stance on Israel, as well as its broader policies regarding the Middle East; he contends that a two-state solution will never happen unless the enemies of Israel accept the nation’s right to exist. Beattie has also responded to the government’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon by arguing that unless all parties agree to a comprehensive peace plan it will merely be a "pause before the next battle".

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Bitterness set in motion: House fails on bipartisanship

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Original article by Ben Packham, Rosie Lewis, Rhiannon Down
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 9-Oct-24

A condolence motion for victims of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel was passed by the lower house on Tuesday, with the support of crossbenchers; the Greens abstained from voting. The Coalition also voted against the motion, because Opposition leader Peter Dutton had wanted it to focus solely on October 7. Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had agreed to a joint motion, but the latter wanted it to include clauses in support of a two-state solution and an end to the Middle East’s "cycle of violence". Albanese ultimately put his version of the motion to parliament, and Dutton accused him of rejecting the Coalition’s "more than reasonable position" for his own "domestic political advancement".

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Qatar Airways to match Qantas for repatriation flights

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 4 : 8-Oct-24

Qatar Airway has agreed to a request from the federal government to operate two repatriation flights to bring home Australians who are stranded in Lebanon. The proposed flights would go from Cyprus to Sydney via Doha, with Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer saying it is committed to providing support to Australian passengers and ensuring their safe return home. Qantas is also operating two repatriation flights from Cyprus at the request of the federal government, with the request from the federal government for Qatar Airways for assistance coming as it assesses a possible investment in Virgin Australia by Qatar Airways.

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QATAR AIRWAYS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED