This is Australia playing a role.” Netanyahu condemned the move on Sunday (Monday AEST), saying recognition of a Palestinian state was a “huge reward to terrorism”. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River,” Netanyahu said in a statement. Rubio said moves to recognise Palestine had encouraged Israel to retaliate by threatening to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. The government does not need to pass legislation to recognise Palestine, and a vote is not required at the United Nations for individual countries to recognise new states. Belgium will also use the UN General Assembly to formally recognise Palestinian statehood, a step the vast majority of UN member states have already taken.