Only when Hamas and Hezbollah are weakened can there be ‘peace’ in the Middle East

Only when the influence of Hamas and Hezbollah are weakened can there be steps towards a “peaceful” two-state solution, says Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham. This comes after former Queensland Labor premier Peter Beattie condemned the government pushing for a two-state solution in the Middle East. “If indeed the current conflict can see Hamas, Hezbollah weakened to the point where they don’t have the influence in Palestinian territories or indeed in Lebanon,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia. “That might give scope actually for there to be the type of steps towards security, stability and ultimately negotiated peaceful outcomes towards a two-state solution.”