Australia to recognize Palestine in September, PM says

 Australia will formally recognize Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday, calling it a “historic step” that will change Palestine’s foreign policy.

Albanese said Australia would join France, Britain and Canada in recognizing Palestine, citing commitments Canberra had received from the Palestinian Authority.

He noted that Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron had also expressed readiness to recognize Palestinian statehood at the U.N. meeting, part of a push to secure long-term peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Times reported that Israel could halt defence and security cooperation with Britain if London proceeds with recognition.