By the undersigned, published by Pearls and Irritations, August 10, 2025

As pressure mounts on the Australian Government over Palestine, a group of highly respected Australians, who have represented our nation overseas, have gone straight to the top with a letter to the prime minister.

4 August 2025

Dear Prime Minister

We are Australians who have represented our nation in many countries. We would find it difficult to do so now.

We are distressed that Australia has done so little to prevent the progressive erosion of international law, the persistent armed assaults on Palestinian people, and the violation of their human rights in Gaza and the West Bank.

We acknowledge your statements, together with other leaders, about the need for cautious consideration of recognition of a Palestinian state, and about the need for a two-state solution. Your approach is supported by a growing number of Australians, of Jewish, Palestinian, and other backgrounds.

This process, while welcome, is far too slow. It is taking more time than the famine-affected people of Gaza and the displaced Palestinians of the West Bank have, if they are to survive. Time is of the essence for them.

It is urgently imperative that Australia join 147 other countries in recognising a Palestinian state. To call repeatedly for a two-state solution makes no sense when only one state exists, and that heavily-armed state, Israel, is engaged in apartheid, war crimes, and potential genocide of almost totally defenceless people.

We urge you to announce in the coming days that Australia will:

Support the creation and recognition of a Palestinian state;Demand Israeli demilitarisation of Gaza and the West Bank;Support a process under United Nations auspices to reform and democratise the Palestinian Authority;Advocate holding elections in which Palestinians can decide if they want two states or one in which they have equal rights with Israelis; Call on Hamas to release remaining Israeli hostages and on Israel to release Palestinian prisoners, including those held without charge, from its gaols;Immediately end Australian exports of weapons and weapons components to Israel, in compliance with determinations of the International Courts; andUrge the United States to cease providing military weapons and intelligence to Israel until IDF attacks on Palestinian territories end.

If Israel continues to deny through its ambassador that war crimes are occurring in Gaza, we recommend that he be expelled and Australia’s ambassador be withdrawn from Tel Aviv.

We look forward to seeing these proposals reflected in your early announcement of Australia’s decisions. We offer you our support in implementing them.

Yours sincerely

Graham Alliband OAM, former AmbassadorGeoff Bentley, former AmbassadorDr Alison Broinowski AM, former diplomatRichard Broinowski AO, former AmbassadorDr Jocelyn Chey AM, former Consul-GeneralAndrew Farran, former diplomat and international lawyerProfessor Stephen FitzGerald AO, former AmbassadorAnthony Kevin, former AmbassadorJohn Lander, former AmbassadorIan Lincoln, former AmbassadorJohn Menadue AO, former AmbassadorCharles Mott, former AmbassadorPeter Rodgers, former AmbassadorDr Jeremy Webb, former diplomatMack Williams, former AmbassadorGarry Woodard, former Ambassador

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