Labor party reverses recognition of West Jerusalem as Israeli capital – Australian Jewish News

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid on Tuesday lashed out at Australia’s announcement that it would no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital after the foreign ministry summoned a special envoy from Canberra to clarify the matter.

“In light of the way decisions are taken in Australia, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally,” Rapid said in a statement.

“Jerusalem is the eternal capital of a united Israel and nothing will change that,” he said.

The foreign ministry, also headed by Mr. Lapid, said Israel “expresses deep disappointment” at the decision, which it said was the result of “short-sighted political considerations”.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the decision to overturn the Morrison government’s policy late Tuesday morning as members of the Jewish community were celebrating Simchat Torah.

“The government reaffirmed Australia’s previous and long standing position that Jerusalem was a final status issue and should be resolved as part of peace talks between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. , undermines the Morrison government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” she said.

“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. We do not support approaches that undermine this prospect.”

It was not until that morning that her office said, “The previous government has made a decision to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. after it reported that text referring to the stance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had been removed from the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Australian Jewish Executive Council (ECAJ) said it was “very disappointed with the government’s decision to withdraw Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, without an opportunity for public consultation or public debate, and in a manner that was markedly opaque. I am disappointed in the

“Not only is it poor policy, Australia’s withdrawal of its recognition that Israel’s capital is in Jerusalem is an unprovoked insult to an important economic and strategic ally,” the ECAJ said.

The Palestinian authorities applauded the decision. Palestinian Authority Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Al-Sheikh said on Twitter: “We welcome Australia’s decision on Jerusalem and its call for a two-state solution based on international legitimacy.”

The Walla news site reported that Israel was surprised by the decision, which came just months after a visit to Israel by the head of the Middle East Division of the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. West Jerusalem.

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