^{By Adam Carlton}

Australia is doing the right thing in supporting the United Nations resolution calling for recognition of Palestinian permanent sovereignty over land, in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem, and the return to Syria of the Galan Heights. The resolution Also calls for Palestinian Sovereignty over water and energy.

Australia supported a second resolution with 160 other countries. This one voted for Israel to assume responsibility and provide compensation to Lebanon for its role in the 2006 oil spill.

In Doing this Australia joins 158 other nations and takes a stand against the no vote led by the United Sates and Israel and backed by only 5 other countries. Merely 11 further countries abstained from the vote.

This makes sit clear where world opinion is, at least in terms of government stances. Such overwhelming consensus only comes about because the populations of nations demand it, and strongly enough to compel their governments to act. Australia is a good example of this. Public opinion, despite massive attempts to silence it, is clearly against Israel’s slaughter of Palestinians, and unhappy about the failure of our government to follow this. Australia remains an enabler of Israel’s slaughter.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong noted internation concern over Israel’s actions, which “undermine stability and prospects for a two-state solution.” and “settler violence against Palestinians.” It may be that this concern is more about the government’s electoral prospects than the suffering of the Palestinians.

But this does not diminish the importance of the decision of the Albanese government to support the United Nations resolution. It signals awareness of public opinion and a small shift in past intransigence. Australia has officially backed permanent sovereignty for the Palestinians for the first time. This is significant for its own sake and because it builds on support for Palestinian membership of the United Nations last May. This small shift in stance flies in the face of the will of Washington.

Israel is being used as a surrogate for American expansion into West Asia and serves as a position to pressure the region and launch attacks on nearby nations. Israel could not do this without serious support from Washington. The partnership supports the global ambitions of the superpower.

Given Australia being bound hand and foot to the United States, this breaking of the ranks has its significance.

Naturally, support for the sovereignty resolution met with condemnation from Zionist sources. Prominent figure and President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, Jeremy Liebler, called the Albanese government action “unprincipled” and added that this “rewards terrorism and the enemies of peace.” Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin insisted that the vote won’t change much but acknowledged that he did note concern over what he called a widening gulf between Canberra and Washington.

“It is disappointing that our government feels the way to end the war, and the wider conflict is by pressuring an ally and a democracy that has achieved peace with every Arab party willing to accept it, while asking nothing of the side mired in dysfunction, terrorism and autocracy,” he said.

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham also attacked the Australian vote. He cited US advisor Nicholas Koval’s comments that there was a “clear and persistent institutional bias directed against” Israel by the United Nations.

Washington’s response to the resolution on Palestinian sovereignty was to attack by calling it “unbalanced…unfairly critical of Israel…” in a statement issued after the vote.

In contrast, Australia Palestine Advocacy Network president Nasser Mashni said the vote was a “long-overdue recognition” of Palestinian rights and a “clear stand” against Israel’s occupation.

“Australia’s support marks an acknowledgment of the catastrophic impact of Israel’s relentless appropriation and destruction of Palestinian resources and sends a clear signal that the world is demanding accountability for these injustices,” he said.