Part 7/10:
Jennings condemns the inclination of Western democracies to recognize Palestine without addressing these complexities, arguing that such moves risk rewarding Hamas and entrenching its influence over Palestinian territories. He criticizes the idea of rewarding terrorism, emphasizing that Hamas’s control of Gaza complicates any hopes for a peaceful and sustainable Palestinian state.
He commends Australian Foreign Minister Anthony Albanese for cautiously approaching the issue, advocating for the removal of Hamas from the equation before any recognition is considered. Jennings warns that prematurely granting statehood could destabilize the Middle East further, leading to deeper conflicts and possibly empowering terrorist factions rather than fostering peace.