Australia has said it would longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing a decision taken by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government in 2018.
While making this known, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said: “Today the Government has reaffirmed Australia’s previous and longstanding position that Jerusalem is a final status issue that should be resolved as part of any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.
“This reverses the Morrison Government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
Wong stated that Australia’s embassy would remain in Tel Aviv and that Canberra has committed to a two-state solution “in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders”.
She added: “We will not support an approach that undermines this prospect.”
Jerusalem’s status is one of the highest sticking points in efforts to reach a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
The entire city, including the eastern sector it annexed after the 1967 Middle East war, is regarded by Israel as its capital while Palestinian officials want occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of a state they hope to create in the future in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has criticized Australia’s decision.
Lapid labelled the move as a “hasty response” and added: “We can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”
In a statement released by his office, the Prime Minister said: “Jerusalem is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that.”
The Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Australian ambassador to lodge a formal protest.
Former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced that his government would recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital after the United States compromised on decades of policy by recognizing Jerusalem and moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Australia’s decision was widely criticized by pro-Palestinian groups and the Labor party, which was in opposition then and vowed to reverse the move if it was elected.
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