Australia announced on Tuesday that it would no longer recognize west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel reversing a decision taken by the government of former premier Scott Morrison in 2018.
“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” Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said in a statement.
“This reverses the Morrison government’s recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” Wong added.
She emphasized that Australia’s embassy would remain in Tel Aviv and that Canberra was committed to a two-state solution “in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security within internationally recognized borders.”
She called the former government’s 2018 decision a “cynical play” to win over Jewish voters ahead of an election in Australia.
“I regret that Mr. 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.
For his part Israeli premier Yair Lapid on Tuesday sharply criticized Australia’s decision.
Lapid described the move as a “hasty response” adding that he “can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”
“Jerusalem is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that” he said in a statement released by his office.
The Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Australian ambassador to make a formal protest.
