Australia (Commonwealth Union)_ Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister, claimed that Canberra’s action in 2018 had harmed international harmony and put Australia out of line with other countries. She emphasized Australia’s continued friendship with Israel as a “steadfast friend”. Tel Aviv will remain the home of its embassy.
A major point of contention between Israel and the Palestinians is the status of Jerusalem. Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, stated: “We can only hope that the Australian government manages other problems more carefully and professionally in light of the manner in which this decision was taken in Australia, as a quick response to an inaccurate allegation in the media. Nothing will ever change the fact that Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel for all time.”
When he overturned decades of American foreign policy by recognizing the historic city as Israel’s capital in 2017, former US President Donald Trump garnered worldwide ire. In May 2018, the US Embassy in Jerusalem moved from Tel Aviv.
Scott Morrison, the former Prime Minister of Australia, declared his government will follow suit some months later. At the time, PM Morrison declared that Australia would recognize West Jerusalem right away but would keep its embassy in Tel Aviv until the achievement of a peace agreement. During an election in May of this year, Morrison’s administration was overthrown.
Tuesday’s decision by the previous administration was referred to as a “cynical ploy” by Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong in an effort to win over Jewish votes before the election. “I regret that Mr. Morrison’s choice to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting posture, and the misery these adjustments have caused to many individuals in the Australian community who sincerely care about this subject,” she added. She reiterated the nation’s “historical and longstanding” stance that the status of Jerusalem should be decided as part of discussions for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
While the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem, which Israel conquered during the Middle East War of 1967, as the capital of a future state, Israel views Jerusalem as its “eternal and undivided” capital. The Israeli-Palestinian dispute is centered on the status of Jerusalem.
