Washington: If and when Anthony Albanese meets Donald Trump in New York – and it may be no more than a brief “pull aside” amid a whirlwind of events – it will be in the context of Australia joining an international push to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations.

This adds a layer of difficulty. The US is against this move. The two men will meet just as Australia is doing something Trump fundamentally opposes.

In overlooked remarks this week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blamed the countries deciding to recognise Palestine – which includes Australia, France, Canada and potentially the United Kingdom – for the latest push by hard-right Israeli politicians to annex the West Bank.

On a visit to Israel and Qatar, Rubio was asked by reporters what he thought of the Israeli

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