Australia recognizes west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital
SYDNEY — Austra l ia has decided to formally recognize west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital but won’t move its embassy until there’s a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Saturday.
Morrison said in a speech Australia would recognize east Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital only after a settle- ment has been reached on a two-state solution. The Australian Embassy won’t be moved from Tel Aviv until such a time, he said.
While the embassy move is delayed, Morrison said his government would establish a defense and trade office in Jerusalem and would also start looking for an appropriate site for the embassy.
“The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem, as the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel,” Morrison said.
He said the decis i on respects a commitment to a two-state solution and long-standing respect for relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Australia becomes the third country to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capi- tal, following the U.S. and Guatemala.
Unlike its predecessors, however, Australia recognized only the western part of the city. The move, therefore, is unlikely to please either side entirely.
For the Palestinians, it offers a partial resolution to an issue they believe should be resolved through negoti- ations. That decision is softened by recognizing their claim to east Jerusalem.
The Israelis welcome rec-
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat slammed Australia’s “irresponsible policies” that led to the recognition.
“The policies of this Australian administration have done nothing to advance the two-state solution,” Erekat said in a statement, stressing the Palestinian view the holy city remains a final-status issue in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have run aground.
Morrison had earlier floated the idea Australia may follow the U.S. move of relocating its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, but it was seen by many Australians as a political stunt. Critognition of Jerusalem as their ics called it a cynical attempt capital, but the Australian to win votes in a by-elecdecision falls far short of tion in October for a Sydtheir claim to all of the city. ney seat with a high Jewish Refusing to include east Jerupopulation. salem, home to the city’s The consideration had most important religious sparked backlash from Mussites, is likely to upset Israeli lim-majority Indonesia and nationalists who dominate Malaysia, threatening a free Prime Minister Benjamin trade deal that has now been Netanyahu’s coalition. delayed.
Israel’s foreign ministry Opposition leader Bill commended Australia’s move Shorten said the decision as “a step in the right direc- to recognize west Jerusalem tion.” In a statement, it also as Israel’s capital but not praised the Australian govmove the embassy there was ernment’s stance against a “humiliating backdown” anti-Semitism and its pro-Is- from the October by-elecrael position at the U.N. tion campaign.
Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it in a move that is not internationally recognized.
Israel considers east Jerusalem an indivisible part of its capital, while the Palestinians seek the area, home to the city’s most sensitive holy sites, as the capital of a future state.