Former minister Bob Carr says Australian PM’s call to Netanyahu is ‘wasting his breath’

Former Australian foreign affairs minister Bob Carr has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reported plan to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing it will have no impact on the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Speaking publicly following a protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge—where he led demonstrators calling for a ceasefire and Palestinian statehood—Carr said: “If the prime minister is ringing Netanyahu to say, ‘we support a two-state solution’, he’s wasting his breath. Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution.” The Guardian is reporting that Carr

Former Australian foreign affairs minister Bob Carr has criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reported plan to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing it will have no impact on the future of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Speaking publicly following a protest march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge—where he led demonstrators calling for a ceasefire and Palestinian statehood—Carr said: “If the prime minister is ringing Netanyahu to say, ‘we support a two-state solution’, he’s wasting his breath. Netanyahu opposes a two-state solution.” The Guardian is reporting that Carr went on to reiterate his call for Australia to take more assertive diplomatic action, including recognising the State of Palestine and sanctioning Israel. He questioned the logic behind delaying such recognition: “I don’t understand the diplomatic strategy that says it suits Australia’s interests being the last country to recognise Palestine. We’ve got neighbours to our north who can expect better of us. I refer to Indonesia and Malaysia in particular.” “Why are we giving the world the impression that we’re some kind of timid laggard?” Carr's comments come amid mounting domestic and international pressure on Australia to join the growing list of countries including the UK, France, and Canada, moving toward formal recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Hill Defends Albanese's Plan to Call Netanyahu

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill defended the prime minister’s decision to seek a direct phone conversation with Netanyahu, describing it as a necessary act of leadership. Appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Hill stated: “It’s important that world leaders convey these things directly. They may not be comfortable conversations, but it’s important at the leader level the messages the foreign minister has been reported as sending to the ambassadors and others are reinforced to the leader level.” Hill also praised Albanese’s authenticity in political dealings: “The characterisation, if you have a conversation with Albo in public and in private, you will get the same person. It’s one of the very rare features of the man, he’s authentic.” The debate reflects a growing divide in Australia over how to respond to the Israel-Gaza war, with increasing calls from prominent political and civil society figures for Australia to adopt a more assertive, values-driven foreign policy stance.