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Photo: RNZ \/ Mark Papalii\n<\/p>\n
New Zealand is among a dwindling group of nations that have not yet taken steps to formally recognise a Palestinian state.<\/p>\n
Palestinian recognition has gained momentum in the run up to leaders week at the United Nations General Assembly.<\/p>\n
The UK, Canada, Australia<\/a> and Portugal all recognised a Palestinian state at the weekend. France followed suit on Tuesday morning and four other states were expected to do so at the meeting ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.<\/p>\n The United Nations conference on a two state solution, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, resumes in New York on Tuesday (NZ time).<\/p>\n The government has been resolute New Zealand will wait to announce its position; Prime Minister Christopher Luxon telling Morning Report on Monday “it’s not a race<\/a>“.<\/p>\n Most countries have sent their heads of state, though Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters is representing New Zealand.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said Luxon’s “primary focus for travel this year has been on trade and the Indo-Pacific”.<\/p>\n “Winston Peters is a highly respected Foreign Affairs Minister who will represent New Zealand very well at the UN,” they said.<\/p>\n Peters will sit in on the two-state soution conference for three hours on Tuesday to listen to what other countries have to say about the ‘New York Declaration’.<\/p>\n \nForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters sits down with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. New Zealand voted in favour of a non-binding resolution endorsing this declaration, that effectively sets out a phased plan to end the conflict, in July.<\/p>\n Peters will outline Cabinet’s final decision in his general debate speech on Saturday morning (NZ time), after taking further soundings on the ground this week.<\/p>\n New Zealand’s position on Palestinian recognition appears to be an increasingly isolated one; with more than three quarters of UN members states already recognising statehood.<\/p>\n Cabinet has proceeded on an “if, not when” basis, while repeatedly calling for an immediate ceasefire, for Hamas to release its hostages and for Israel to respect international law.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nPhoto: RNZ \/ Anneke Smith\n<\/p>\n