Israel Slams Australia’s Palestine Recognition Plans, Accuses European Countries of “Shameful” Behaviour
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at Australia and several European countries for their plans to recognise the state of Palestine, calling their actions “shameful” and “disappointing”.
In a press conference on Sunday, Netanyahu stated that most of the Jewish public is against the Palestinian state, citing concerns that it would bring war, not peace.
He also claimed that European countries and Australia are “marching into that rabbit hole” of recognising Palestine, which would not change Israel’s position.
International Backlash Against Israel’s Gaza Plans
The UN Security Council held a rare weekend meeting in response to Netanyahu’s plans to take full control of Gaza, which were met with international condemnation.
The UK’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, James Kariuki, stated that expanding military operations would only lead to more bloodshed and not bring an end to the conflict.
The UN’s humanitarian office, OCHA, reported that 98 children have died from acute malnutrition since the start of the conflict in October 2023, with 37 deaths occurring since July.
Ramesh Rajasingham, the coordination director of OCHA, described the situation in Gaza as “starvation, pure and simple”.
Australia Stands Firm Against Israel’s Actions
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s plans to take control of Gaza City, saying it would be wrong and risk violating international law.
RBA Expected to Cut Interest Rates This Week
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is widely expected to cut interest rates this week, following a slowdown in inflation.
The RBA’s monetary policy board will announce its decision on Tuesday, with all 40 economists polled by Reuters predicting a 25 basis point cut to 3.6%.
The Australian Financial Review reports that the RBA’s decision will be influenced by the current inflation rate, which is close to the lower band of the RBA’s 2%-3% target range.
The unemployment rate, which rose to a three-and-a-half-year high of 4.3% in June, also suggests a need for less restrictive monetary policy.