Penny Wong on a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine
Controversy continues to court tomorrow's arrival in Australia of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Dozens of prominent Australians have signed a statement strongly opposing his four day visit, particuarly in light of Israel's expansionist settlements policy in East Jersualem and on the West Bank.
And the trip has highlighted a deep rift within the Labor Party, with calls by two former Prime Ministrers--Bob Hawke and Kevin Rudd--for Australia to formally recognise the state of Palestine.
'Our view [is] that a just and fair two-state solution is the only way to peace and security for both the Palestinians and the Israelis', Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong says.
'The focus here should be what is it that we can do, what is it that we can articulate that supports a two-state solution'.
'If there is no progress, a future Labor government would consider recognising Palestine in conjunction with like-minded nations'.