The General Delegation of Palestine is the diplomatic representation for Palestine to Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste and the Pacific.

As the diplomatic representation for Palestine, the General Delegation works to strengthen and deepen friendly relations between the Palestinian people and the people of the Australia-Pacific region. The General Delegation liaises directly with all levels of government, developing political, social and economic initiatives and projects that are of interest and benefit to both peoples.

Through its office in Canberra, the Delegation provides a range of consular and information services to Palestinians living in Australia, and to Australians interested in Palestine.

For details on the how to contact the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, go to the Contact tab above.
 

Australia is isolating itself from the international community by reversing its position on the illegality of Israeli settlements and voting against two resolutions and abstaining on another two resolutions on the question of Palestine, in the 25th Session of the UN Fourth Committee last week.

The United Nation General Assembly will convene tomorrow, Tuesday, November 26th, New York time to vote on Four Resolutions on the Question of Palestine. This vote will be final and it is hoped Australia will alter its voting from the previous UN Fourth Committee.

The Fourth committee resolutions condemned Israeli settlements and called for respect and the application of the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention, also known as the Law of Occupation, to Israel’s on-going occupation of Palestine.

Despite settlements being illegal and the international community upholding the application of the Fourth Geneva Convention to Palestine, Australia abstained from any condemnation of Israeli settlements and application of the Law of Occupation.

Australia has reversed its position on settlements and on the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and now stands with few countries against the international community, which recognizes Israeli settlements as illegal. The previous Australian Government voted in favor of these resolutions, which upheld international law.

Ambassador Izzat Abdulhadi, Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, has criticized this policy shift.

Ambassador Abdulhadi expressed “disappointment and regret at the new voting patterns of Australia.” He also indicated “this policy shift will cast a shadow on the current good relations between Australia and Arab and Islamic countries”.

The decision of the Coalition Government has created a real concerns and deep disappointment among the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic communities and within other sectors of the Australian community.

The General Delegation of Palestine hopes that in tomorrow’s General Assembly voting, the Federal government will shift its vote on the four resolutions from the Fourth committee.

“It’s is not so late for the Australian government to change its previous committee vote and stick to the sound policy of condemnation of all settlements activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal”, said Ambassador Abdulhadi.

“Under all of its international obligations, Israel is required to end all settlement activities. The realization of the two-state solution is necessary for peace and security in the region. Israel’s continuation of settlement activity is undermining the two-state solution and peace in the region”, Ambassador Abdulhadi explained.

For further information please contact:

The General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
Ambassador Izzat Abdulhadi
Phone #: 02 62869193