ANIC and the Australian Muslim Community Welcome The Government’s Position on Palestine

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) and the Australian Muslim community welcome the recent announcement by the Australian Government to reverse previous changes made by the former Government, thereby resuming the official use of the term “occupied Palestinian Territories” when discussing matters around Palestine and illegal Israeli settlements.

Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, outlined the Government’s position, as clarifying that the “West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza, were occupied by Israel following the 1967 war and that the occupation continues”. Ms Wong further stated that the Australian Government “is gravely concerned about alarming trends that are significantly reducing the prospects of peace”.

ANIC thanks the Albanese Government for this positive step of recognising the rights of the Palestinian people and acknowledging the ongoing plight of the Palestinians.

We look forward to the Australian Government upholding their commitment to recognising the State of Palestine and working with the international community, the Arab League, Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, the UN and others, to support a multilateral approach to facilitate the path for peace, justice and homeland for the Palestinian people.