Canberra
This week, the member nations of the United Nations are expected to vote on the Palestinian observer status resolution.
Should the Question of Palestine resolution come forward, Australia will abstain.
The Government's position balances our long-standing support for the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and their own state with our concern that the only durable basis for resolution of this conflict is direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
This draft resolution, if passed by UN member states, will accord non-member Observer state status in the UN to the Palestinian Authority.
It reaffirms the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination but does not confer statehood.
Australia strongly supports a negotiated two-state solution that allows a secure Israel to live side-by-side with a secure and independent future Palestinian state.
We urge both sides to return to negotiations in good faith.