15 Diplomats Pen Letter to PM Calling for Recognition of Palestinian State

Fifteen former diplomats have penned a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying it would be “difficult” to represent their country going forward given the perceived lack of action by the government on Gaza.

“We are Australians who have represented our nation in many countries. We would find it difficult to do so now,” wrote the 15 diplomats, many of whom are ex-ambassadors.

They say they’re distressed that Australia has “done so little to prevent the progressive erosion of international law, the persistent armed assaults on Palestinian people, and the violation of their human rights in Gaza and the West Bank,” but acknowledge that Albanese, along with other world leaders, had made statements about the need for a two-state solution.

“It is taking more time than the famine-affected people of Gaza and the displaced Palestinians of the West Bank have, if they are to survive. Time is of the essence for them,” the letter says.

The former diplomats say it is “imperative” that Australia join the 147 of the U.N.’s 193 member states that recognise a Palestinian state, and says that if Israel continues to deny the existence of war crimes, the government should expel Israel’s ambassador from Australia, and likewise withdraw Australia’s ambassador from Tel Aviv.

The letter urges the prime minister to announce support for the creation and recognition of a Palestinian state “in the coming days,” while also demanding Israeli demilitarisation of Gaza and the West Bank.

The letter comes following a major 90,000 demonstration on the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine. A day later, the Albanese government pledged another $20 million in aid to Gaza.

Meanwhile, the federal opposition has raised concerns that recognition could be seen as rewarding the U.N.-designated terrorist organisation Hamas.

On July 29, a similar open letter was sent to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, signed by nearly 200 former Canadian ambassadors and career diplomats, and six days earlier, over 50 British former diplomats and UN officials wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Both leaders have committed to recognising Palestine, provided Hamas is not involved in its government.

The signatories to the Australian letter include:

• Graham Alliband OAM, Australian Ambassador in Vietnam between 1988 and 1991
• Geoff Bentley, who spend over 35 years as an overseas diplomat, including as Consul General in Hong Kong, culminating in his appointment as Australia’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation from 1994 to 98.
• Alison Broinowski AM, whose overseas postings included Japan, the Philippines, Jordan, South Korea and the UN.
• Richard Broinowski AO, former Australian ambassador to Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Central American Republics, and Cuba.
• Jocelyn Chey AM, who held various diplomatic positions, including postings in Beijing and Hong Kong, where she was consul-general from 1992 to 1995. She is currently an adjunct professor at the Australia-China Relations Institute at UTS.
• Andrew Farran, a former diplomat and international lawyer, and a previous vice-president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
• Stephen FitzGerald AO, who in 1973 was appointed as the first Australian ambassador to China and from 1974 concurrently as the ambassador to North Korea.
• Anthony Kevin, who served in the Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister’s departments over a 30-year period, and was Australia’s ambassador to Poland and Cambodia.
• John Lander, former deputy ambassador to China (1974-6), first Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran (1985-8) and 3 times head of the China section of Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Ian Lincoln, former Consul-General in Noumea, Ambassador to Vietnam, and Deputy High Commissioner in New Zealand.
• John Menadue AO, ambassador to Japan from 1976 to 1980, who then became a senior public servant. He was CEO of Qantas from 1986 to 1989.
• Peter Rodgers, Australian Ambassador to Israel from 1994 to 1997, and High Commissioner to the Caribbean from 1990 to 1993.
• Jeremy Webb, a former diplomat with postings in Indonesia, South Korea, France, and New Zealand.
• Mack Williams, Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines (1989 to 1994) and to the Republic of Korea (1994 to 1998) (pdf).
• Garry Woodard, former ambassador to Burma 1973 to 1975, to China from 1976 to 1980, and High Commissioner to Malaysia from 1980 to 1983.