Joe O’Brien, Host: Foreign Minister Penny Wong joins us now from Canberra. Foreign Minister, welcome. What do you make of these images that we're seeing coming out of Israel with the release of the first batch of hostages?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Well it is a very moving day isn’t it, extraordinarily moving, and this is a day of immense relief for so many people in Israel and in Australia. It's also a day of loss and grief for those for whom there is, there is no one returning. So we are just very moved and we stand with the hostages and their families. We've been calling for hostages to be released from day one. And it is moving, I'm sure, to all of us around the world to see these images of people, people returning home.
O’Brien: And what about the thousands of Palestinians being released from Israeli jails?
Foreign Minister: Look, this is such an important part of the peace plan, and that is why this was such a big and important achievement by the Trump administration, by President Trump personally, a peace plan with the exchange of hostages and prisoners and, of course the ceasefire, which has been so important to the people of Gaza.
O’Brien: We're just seeing these images of President Donald Trump being greeted by Benjamin Netanyahu at Tel Aviv ahead of possibly meeting some hostages and addressing the Knesset. How much of this can be credited to Donald Trump?
Foreign Minister: This is a singular achievement by President Trump. Only, only the President of the United States could bring about, bring this about. And as I said on Friday, he deserves enormous congratulations and enormous – it is an enormous achievement. We haven't seen this sort of progress, you know, in the Middle East for some time. And he's brought, you know, this conflict, you know, to a pause and hopefully to an end, and has a pathway to peace that he's been so critical in articulating. So, it's a great achievement by the US President.
O’Brien: Couldn't he have brought it to a pause or an end a lot earlier and saved a lot of lives?
Foreign Minister: Look, you know, we all wish that this day had been sooner. We all wish that this day had been sooner. We also, we all wish that October 7 and the atrocities that occurred on that day had never happened. But building peace is challenging. Building peace takes time and effort. And it is good to, it’s a relief to see these images, and it is a relief to many around the world that we see a ceasefire in Gaza.
O’Brien: We're at point one, two or three of this 20 point plan at the moment. What chance do you give this plan of going beyond what we're seeing now and working towards, one day, the plan even mentions the possibility of Palestinian statehood?
Foreign Minister: Well that's where we want to end is to have sustainable peace and security in the Middle East for all the peoples of the region – and that means Israel and a Palestinian state both able to live in security and peace. That's where we want to, that's where we want to arrive. But that will take a lot of work. It will take continued US engagement, it will take the good faith engagement of all parties. We've seen unprecedented commitments from the Arab League, which has been a key part of assuring this outcome.
O’Brien: And there's, Donald Trump is travelling to this summit in Egypt, this key summit, after addressing the Knesset and talking through his 20 point plan with the leaders. I think it is from 20 countries around the world. Has Australia got a monitoring presence there or did Australia seek to be involved in that at all?
Foreign Minister: Look, we're not involved at that conference, but we certainly will engage and we certainly will be looking at what occurs. And I think the whole world is hopefully supporting that conference to continue the process that President Trump has outlined. I mean, what we need is this plan to be delivered. And ultimately, the countries of the region, the parties in the region, will need to hold to the commitments that have been made.
O’Brien: Part of this plan is an international stabilisation force. Would Australia be willing to contribute to such a force?
Foreign Minister: I think I was asked that question on Friday and I said we have not been asked, so I wouldn't be getting ahead of myself on that.
O’Brien: But if you're so keen for a resolution of this, and I mean, that's the bottom line, is that every wants, see, everyone wants to see this cycle of violence stop somehow. And if there is this international momentum building and Australia talks of its importance as a middle power, middle power and playing a role, wouldn't, yeah, wouldn't it gel that Australia would put up its hand if that was going to happen?
Foreign Minister: Well, look, we haven't been asked, so I'm not going to get ahead of myself. And what I have said all along is, you know, we're, we want to play our part in contributing momentum to peace. That's how we've sought to approach these matters for a long time.
O’Brien: And can you see now a day when there will be a Palestinian state and an Israel state living side by side in peace?
Foreign Minister: What I do know, and I think the world can see by looking at what has happened over decades now is that the promise that was made by the international community, when the State of Israel was established, to a Palestinian state, that that needs to be delivered for there to be long-term peace and security for the people of the region. So, we will keep advocating for two states because we do see that as the only way we can ultimately have peace and security for the peoples of the Middle East.
O’Brien: Okay Foreign Minister Penny Wong, thanks for talking to us from Canberra.
Foreign Minister: Great to speak with you.