The Israeli Government rebuked the Australian administration for overturning a decision made by its predecessor to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasised the new Labor government’s strong support for both Israel and the Palestinian people while reiterating Canberra’s “prior and long-standing position” on Israel.
“Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders,” Wong said. “We will not support an approach that undermines this prospect.”
Following a declaration by former US President Donald Trump, the previous administration, headed by former Coalition Prime Minister Scott Morrison, recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2018.
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By stating that the US believed Jerusalem to be Israel’s capital, Trump upended seven decades of US foreign policy in 2017. The US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem the following year.
Australia’s move to return to its prior stance on Tuesday, according to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, was a “hurried response to an inaccurate media narrative.”
“In light of the way in which this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally,” Lapid said in a statement, without elaborating on the “incorrect report.”
The Australian ambassador to Israel was also called in by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Prior to Trump’s announcement, previous US presidents had refrained from announcing anything on the subject until the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was addressed. Leaders from throughout the world condemned Trump’s move, which also shocked the Muslim community. The sacred city is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians as their capital.
Outrage was also generated by Morrison’s decision to follow Trump’s lead, and on Tuesday Wong apologised for any grief she may have caused.
“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,” Wong said.
