New York: By officially recognising Palestinian statehood, Anthony Albanese has done more than send a message to the world about how Australia views the Middle East peace process. He has issued a declaration of independence from the United States and an assertion of Australian sovereignty over its foreign policy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to join with the UK and Canada to recognise Palestinian statehood defies the views of the Trump administration. Albanese was in Trump’s home town, a block away from one of the real estate mogul’s skyscrapers. Instead, Albanese rejected Trump’s view that recognising Palestine is a reward for Hamas, the listed terror group that launched the brutal massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023.