Australia Reverses Previous Govt's Decision To Recognise West Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

The government said that the city's status should be resolved through peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.

File Photo of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.

Source : Twitter/ANI

New Delhi: The Australian Government on Tuesday reversed its decision taken by the previous government to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as re[orted by the news agency Reuters.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the decision was made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Cabinet on Tuesday. The government said that the city's status should be resolved through peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.

“Will always be a steadfast friend of Israel," news agency Reuters quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong as saying. He was committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and future Palestine coexist peacefully within internationally recognised borders.

The government "recommits Australia to international efforts in the responsible pursuit of progress towards a just and enduring two-state solution," Wong said in a statement, as reported by Reuters.

Earlier in December 2018, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had reversed decades of Middle East Policy, by stating that Australia has recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but would not move its embassy there immediately.

Former United States President Donald Trump had recognised Jerusalem as the capital a year earlier.

"Put Australia out of step with the majority of the international community", and was met with concern by Muslim-majority neighbour Indonesia, Wong told reporters, as reported by Reuters.

"I regret that Mr. Morrison’s decision to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting position and the distress these shifts have caused too many people in the Australian community who care deeply about this issue," Reuters quoted Wong as saying.

In 2018, former PM Morrison had flagged moving the embassy from Tel Aviv. It came just a few days ahead of a by-election in a Sydney electorate with a strong Jewish representation, which his party lost.

The Guardian first reported a change to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website to remove language describing west Jerusalem as the capital on Monday. Israel's embassy in Canberra did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(With Inputs from Reuters)