The Australian Government’s decision to recognise Palestine is a historic step and one that aligns with the values of fairness and dignity deeply cherished in our nation.
For Palestinian Christians in Australia, this recognition is not only political, but also personal.
It affirms our identity in the face of those who dismiss us as ‘fake people’, a slur too often used to deny our history and existence.
Recognition is therefore not just about diplomacy, but about affirming the dignity of our families and communities who continue to live disenfranchised under constant imminent danger, and those here who carry their unique stories forward, enriching the fabric of Australian society.
It is worth remembering that the Holy See has long recognised Palestine. In 2015, the Vatican formalised diplomatic relations with Palestine acknowledging its right to statehood and calling for peace rooted in justice and equality.
By doing so, the Holy See reminded the world that human dignity and the common good transcend politics. Australia now joins that moral stance and for us, this recognition carries a profound resonance.
For Catholics and people of good will, the issue is not about race, religion, or ethnicity. The church teaches that every human being is created in the image of God, deserving of equal dignity, rights, and opportunity. The Catechism reminds us that peace can never be built upon injustice, and that a just order must respect the rights of all peoples.
Here in Australia, we look to the example of our own St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and the forgotten, insisting that no one should be denied dignity because of their background or circumstance.
Her famous words, “Never see a need without doing something about it,” call us as Catholics to act when we see injustice before us. Recognition of a people long denied their rights is one of those acts, and a step towards ensuring they are not forgotten.
Australia’s recognition of Palestine will not by itself end the suffering of our families in Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem. But it is a signal and an acknowledgment that Palestinians are not an invisible people, but a nation deserving of the same dignity and recognition as any other.
For Palestinian Christians, this recognition echoes a message of the Gospel that the poor and oppressed are never forgotten in God’s eyes. It is also a reminder that our faith compels us to stand for truth and justice, even if it leads to our own persecution.
In recognising Palestine, Australia joins the Holy See and much of the world in affirming a basic truth: that peace requires justice, and justice requires recognising the equal dignity of both peoples who call the Holy Land home.
Jason Damouni is a spokesperson for Christian Palestinians in Australia.
