Australia hesitates on Jerusalem move

▶ Premier walks back controversial decision to relocate embassy

Facing a domestic backlash and the threat of foreign trade retaliation, Australia’s Prime Minister on Tuesday appeared to slow-peddle a controversial decision to move the country’s embassy to Jerusalem, saying he would first consult with allies.

As Scott Morrison stood accused of ditching 70 years of Australian foreign policy and reports emerged that Indonesia may suspend a planned bilateral trade deal, the prime minister told parliament no firm decision had been taken.

Hours after first floating the idea, Morrison said he would “canvass views” from regional leaders about the decision to follow US President Donald Trump’s lead and move the embassy from Tel Aviv “before the government forms a particular view on this issue.”

Jerusalem is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. Most nations have avoided moving embassies for fear of prejudging peace talks on the city’s final status – until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year.

Officials said the decision to move the Australian embassy has been under consideration for months. But Morrison’s announcement was timed to coincide with a make-or-break moment for his fledgling premiership.

On Saturday voters in a key Sydney electorate will go to the polls, with Morrison’s Liberal party candidate, a former ambassador to Israel, trailing in the final stretch.

Defeat for Morrison’s candidate – in a constituency with a sizeable Jewish population – would spell the end of his government’s parliamentary majority and a bleak future for his months-old stint at the top of Australia’s rough-and-tumble political heap.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Morrison’s initiative, the response from neighboring Indonesia was less welcoming.

Australia would be “violating international law” and UN security council resolutions if it proceeded with the embassy move, said Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki, in Jakarta on an official visit Tuesday.

“Australia is risking (its) trade and business relationship with the rest of the world and particularly the Muslim world,” he added.

“I hope that Australia would reconsider that decision before it takes such action for election purposes.”