The American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, says Australia has made “a very serious mistake” in recognising a Palestinian state, saying the United States feels “very strong disappointment” and “disgust” over the action.
“The government of Australia has made a very serious mistake. We think they’ve gone along with some of the European nations without understanding the implications. We wish they had thought this through. We wish they had listened not just to Israel’s warnings about it, but to our warnings,” the former Republican governor of Arkansas told ABC Radio National.
Australia recognised a Palestinian state at the United Nations this week, alongside the UK and Canada. Huckabee said that despite the difference of opinion on the issue, the nations could maintain diplomatic relations and work together on joint measures like the AUKUS pact.
“I think it’s possible for nations to disagree on some things and agree on others and still maintain a relationship. That’s not to say that there is not very, very strong disappointment, and perhaps the word disgust would be a more appropriate term for how the US feels toward what we thought are our friends,” Huckabee said.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticised Australia’s decision to recognise Palestinian statehood.Credit: AP
“We think [allies] should be standing together with us and opposing Hamas and demanding the hostage release. But on the other hand, it does not mean that we break relationships, recall our ambassadors or close our embassies. There are a lot more things we do agree on than we disagree on.”
Huckabee said he was “comforted” to hear of Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s letter to Republican lawmakers in the United States which said the Coalition would reverse recognition should it be re-elected.
In her letter, Ley said the position was not bipartisan and did not reflect the views of the majority of Australians, citing polling from one study, Resolve Political Monitor, which said 24 per cent of Australians supported recognition.
Asked about the letter, Huckabee said: “It would tell me that not everybody in Australia agrees with maybe the leadership, and I’m comforted by that because it does tell me that there are those who are looking at this from what’s best for not just the Middle East, but best, really, for a global resolve of a situation that is hurting many and helping no one.”
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