Australia reinstates term ‘Occupied Palestinian Territories’ for West Bank

The Australian government has described illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank as a breach of international law and decided to officially reinstate the term “Occupied Palestinian Territories” to refer to the area.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said at the Parliament House on Tuesday that Canberra would move to “strengthen the government’s objection to settlements by affirming that they are illegal under international law and a significant obstacle to peace,” Australia’s public news service ABC News reported.

Wong noted that by referring to “Occupied Palestinian Territories,” Australia would be bringing itself in line with the terminology employed by multiple other countries, as well as resolutions from the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council.

“Australia is … returning to the term Occupied Palestinian Territories and the point I’d make is that it is consistent with UN Security Council resolutions, it is consistent with the approach taken by key partners including the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the European Union,” she said, according to the report.