Australia reverses decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israeli capital
SMA NEWS — CANBERRA
Australia has reversed a decision made four years ago to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Canberra’s decision in 2018 had undermined peace and put Australia out of step with other nations, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
She stressed that Australia remained a “steadfast friend” to Israel. Its embassy will stay in Tel Aviv.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contested issues between Israel and the Palestinians.
Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: “In light of the way in which this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.
Former US President Donald Trump drew international criticism in 2017 when he reversed decades of American foreign policy by recognizing the ancient city as Israel’s capital. The US embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May 2018.
Months later, Australia’s then Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his government would follow suit.
At the time, Morrison said Australia would recognize West Jerusalem immediately but not move its embassy from Tel Aviv until a peace settlement was achieved.
Morrison’s government lost power in an election in May this year.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Wong called the former government’s decision a “cynical play” to win over Jewish voters ahead of an election in Australia.
“I regret that Morrison’s decision to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting position, and the distress these shifts have caused to many people in the Australian community who care deeply about this issue,” she said.
She reaffirmed the country’s “previous and longstanding” position that the status of Jerusalem should be resolved as part of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.
The UK is currently considering moving its embassy to Jerusalem. Honduras, Guatemala and Kosovo are the only places other than the US with embassies in the city.
