The Australian government is reversing a decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
News of the move was originally broken Monday by the Guardian, but it was then denied by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. However, later in the day, Wong made an announcement in a media release confirming the decision.
In the release, she affirmed Australia’s stance as a firm ally to Israel but stressed its commitment to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Recognizing West Jerusalem as the capital would undermine such a solution, Wong said. The decision to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital was made by Australia’s previous government under Scott Morrison’s Liberal government, which was replaced in May by Anthony Albanese’s Labor government.
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“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,” Wong’s statement reads. “This reverses the Morrison Government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”
Wong also stressed Australia’s credentials as a close ally of Israel.
“Australia will always be a steadfast friend of Israel. We were among the first countries to formally recognise Israel under Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley. This Government will not waver in its support of Israel and the Jewish community in Australia,” she said. “We are equally unwavering supporters of the Palestinian people, providing humanitarian support every year since 1951 and advocating for resumed peace negotiations.”
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Morrison recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2018, following the lead of then-President Donald Trump and the United States.
After the ousting of the conservative Liberal government, however, the liberal Labor government decried the decision as “playing politics,” Wong said, moving the recognition of Israel’s capital back to Tel Aviv.
