Australia’s left-wing Labor government confirmed Monday it will recognise a Palestinian state at the U.N. General Assembly next month, dismissing Israel’s call that such a move “rewards terrorism.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had received firm commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) including to demilitarise, hold general elections and continue to recognise Israel’s right to exist, the BBC reports .

“A two-state solution is humanity’s best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,” he said.

Israel has long maintained recognising a Palestinian state “rewards terrorism” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised international calls to recognise Palestinian statehood just

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