Anthony Albanese’s decision to recognize the Palestinian state continues to put pressure on both sides, and the Trump administration is tired of the move, and former Canberra’s top diplomats have warned that it needs to coincide with sanctions against Israel.
On Friday, the prime minister rejected Israeli Ambassador Mike Huckabee and rejected criticism of the Labour government’s decision to support France, Canada and the UK next month. He said Australia is a sovereign nation that made its own decisions.
The Albanese move risks a rift with Donald Trump, who personally opposes recognition, as tensions emerge in the US president’s bilateral relations over Australia’s exports demands Australia to increase defence spending.
Albanese has yet to hold a face-to-face meeting with Trump after the first scheduled June meeting on G7 bystanders in Canada was cancelled at the final moments when the president returned to Washington to oversee preparations for bombing Iran’s nuclear sites.
In an interview with ABC on Thursday night, Huckabee provided widespread criticism of Australia’s approval decision, saying the timing of the announcement undermined negotiations for the ceasefire and the release of Israeli prisoners.
Huckabee said Trump, Secretary of State and national security adviser Marco Rubio expressed unhappiness with Albanese’s decision when he spoke to them.
“There’s a big level of disappointment and some disgust,” Huckabee said. “I don’t know that the president used that word, but I think it’s a characterization of emotions.
“I don’t think it’s an emotional feeling, ‘You have to be kidding… why are they doing this? And why are they doing it now?” In our view, it wasn’t okay and it wasn’t timing so there’s no need to pretend it’s okay. ”
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