Recently, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s conservative government has been met with heated criticism from locals and international allies due to pro-Palestine political views that were voiced by one of their front-benchers.
Marise Payne, who is the Foreign Minister of Australia, recently made a statement that brought attention to her own government, as well as other international players. She suggested that Palestinians should be “relocated” to Jordan in order to “find a better life,” according to comments she made during a radio interview on June 24th.
This suggestion was quickly met with backlash, with the leaders of the Arab League and the International Federation of Red Cross also expressing their disapproval. Furthermore, many Australians took to social media to voice their displeasure and shock over the Minister’s words.
Morrison has denied having any knowledge of the statement before it was made, and he has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the Middle East Peace Process. However, it was further revealed that the right-wing government of Australia had already discussed the relocation of Palestinians to East Jordan at a diplomatic meeting last year, which has only added fuel to the criticism.
The Foreign Minister later walked back her comments in a tweet, emphasizing that Australia remains committed to a two-state solution. But by that time, the damage had already been done. Not only had she undermined the entire peace process, but she had also hurt the morale of Australia’s Arab minority in the process.
The incident has left many Australians conflicted, wondering whether their government’s foreign policy presents a realistic solution or if it serves the agenda of the conservative party alone. Paynes’s comments have only highlighted Australia’s disregard for the human rights of Palestinians, which has been a long-standing source of tension between countries like Australia and Arab nations.
While other nations have tried to provide guidance and support to the Palestinians, Australia has taken a hands-off approach, likely due to their reliance on foreign oil imports and trade relations with Middle Eastern countries.
While the suggestion of relocation is no longer formally up for discussion, it still serves as an example of the disconnect between Australia and the Palestinian people. It is clear that if Australia truly wants to be a part of the Middle East peace process, they must find a better way of acknowledging and addressing the needs of the Palestinians.