New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that New Zealand will not recognize the State of Palestine at this time but remains committed to a two-state solution in New York on Friday.
“With a war raging, Hamas remaining the de facto government of Gaza, and no clarity on next steps, too many questions remain about the future state of Palestine for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time,” Peters said in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
“We are also concerned that a focus on recognition, in the current circumstances, could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire by pushing Israel and Hamas into even more intransigent positions," Peters added.
New Zealand's position is out of step with traditional partners Australia, Canada, and Britain, which all recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday in a move that aligned them with more than 140 other countries also backing the resolution.
A handout from the New Zealand government on Friday said that it hoped to recognize a Palestinian state at a time when the situation on the ground offers greater prospects for peace and negotiation than at present.
New Zealand's opposition Labour Party criticized the decision
Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare shared his opinion that New Zealand felt let down by the government today."There is no two-state solution or enduring peace in the Middle East without recognition of Palestine as a state," Henare said.