Jerusalem, 11 August, 2025 (TPS-IL) — President Isaac Herzog sharply criticized Australia’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state, calling it “a grave mistake” and “a reward to terror.” Speaking Monday at the inauguration of the new Knesset Museum in Jerusalem, Herzog warned that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state would neither help the Palestinian people nor aid in the rescue of hostages held by Hamas.
“I wonder what the Knesset members in those days would have said about the Australian Prime Minister’s intention to recognize a Palestinian state,” Herzog said. “I have no doubt what [David] Ben-Gurion and [Menachem] Begin, who were on opposite sides of the aisle, would have said together, and I too say here emphatically to the whole world: Israel has always strived, and will always strive, for peace with our neighbors including the Palestinians. When Israel fights cruel terror, it does so for the sake of peace and for the sake of the free world.”
Herzog insisted, “These declarations, by Australia and other countries, are a reward for terror, a prize for the enemies of freedom, liberty, and democracy. This is a grave and dangerous mistake, which will not help a single Palestinian and sadly will not bring back a single hostage.”
Albanese justified his announcement on Monday, saying “A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.”
Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon condemned Albanese’s announcement.
“Peace is built by ending terror, not rewarding it,” Maimon said in a statement. “By recognizing a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap, and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel’s security, derails hostage negotiations, and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence.” He added, “Peace is not achieved through declarations; it is achieved when those who have chosen terror abandon it and when violence and incitement end. Rewarding those who use terror as a political tool sends the dangerous message that violence brings political gains.”
Meanwhile, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir vowed on Sunday to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take “immediate” steps aimed at “toppling the Palestinian Authority.” This response followed a report by the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed that PA President Mahmoud Abbas is considering a unilateral declaration of statehood when world leaders gather in New York City for the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.
The gathering begins on Sept. 23.
The report added that Abbas also plans to hold elections for a new Palestinian National Council. Palestinians have not held national elections since 2005 and Abbas is now in the 20th year of what was supposed to be a four-year term. Since then, Abbas has canceled several attempted elections amid Fatah-Hamas disagreements, most recently in 2021.
Meanwhile, several countries, including France, Canada, and Malta, have announced they intend to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN gathering.
Israel is also reportedly weighing the possibility of cutting security cooperation with Britain if Prime Minister Keir Starmer follows through on his own plan to recognize Palestine ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting.
Approximately 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.
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