Australia reverses resolution to recognise west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital By Reuters

By Kirsty Needham and Dan Williams

SYDNEY/JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Australia on Tuesday reversed a call of the earlier authorities to recognise west Jerusalem because the capital of Israel, saying the standing of town needs to be resolved by peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian individuals.

Overseas Affairs Minister Penny Wong mentioned Australia “will at all times be a steadfast pal of Israel” and was dedicated to a two-state answer during which Israel and a future Palestine coexist in peace inside internationally recognised borders.

The federal government “recommits Australia to worldwide efforts within the accountable pursuit of progress in direction of a simply and enduring two-state answer”, she mentioned in an announcement.

Israel’s Overseas Ministry voiced “deep disappointment” with the choice and mentioned it might summon the Australian ambassador.

“Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish individuals for 3,000 years and can proceed to be the State of Israel’s everlasting and united capital, no matter this-or-that resolution,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.

Earlier Prime Minister Scott Morrison had reversed many years of Center East coverage in December 2018 by saying Australia recognised west Jerusalem because the capital of Israel however wouldn’t transfer its embassy there instantly.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump had recognised Jerusalem because the capital a yr earlier, with out elaborating on the boundaries of a metropolis whose jap sector – the placement of main Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy websites – Palestinians need for his or her future capital.

The Palestinians, whose U.S.-sponsored statehood talks with Israel stalled in 2014 and who boycotted Trump’s administration over his pro-Israel strikes, praised Australia’s turnaround.

Calling it a “correction of a mistake made by the earlier authorities,” Palestinian Overseas Minister Riyad al-Maliki advised Reuters that Australia ought to now “transfer to the extra necessary step, and that’s recognising the state of Palestine in gentle of its dedication to the two-state answer”.

Wong advised reporters Morrison’s 2018 resolution “put Australia out of step with the vast majority of the worldwide neighborhood”, and was met with concern by Muslim-majority neighbour Indonesia.

“I remorse that Mr Morrison’s resolution to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting place, and the misery these shifts have prompted to many individuals within the Australian neighborhood who care deeply about this situation,” she mentioned.

Morrison had flagged transferring the embassy from Tel Aviv in 2018 simply days earlier than a by-election in a Sydney voters with a robust Jewish illustration, which his Liberal celebration nonetheless misplaced.

The Guardian first reported a change to the Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce web site to take away language describing West Jerusalem because the capital on Monday.

Wong mentioned the choice was made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Cupboard on Tuesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, a centrist lagging behind his conservative predecessor Benjamin Netanyahu forward of a Nov. 1 election, accused Canberra of being misled by a media report.

“We will solely hope that the Australian authorities manages different issues extra severely and professionally,” he mentioned on Twitter.

Wong earlier advised reporters the division web site had been up to date “forward of presidency processes”.

Morrison’s Liberal-led coalition misplaced a nationwide election in Could, returning a Labor authorities for the primary time in 9 years.