Israel slams Australian decision to stop recognizing Jerusalem as its capital

Jerusalem, Occupied Palestinian Territories (AFP):

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has sharply criticised Australia’s decision to stop recognizing Israel-occupied West Jerusalem as the capital of the Zionist state, reversing a decision by a previous right-wing government.

Lapid described the move as a “hasty response”, adding: “We can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.

“Jerusalem is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that,” the prime minister added in a highly controversial statement released by his office, which flies in the face of international law according to which Jerusalem is an international city and its occupation by Israel illegal .

The Israeli foreign ministry said it had summoned the Australian ambassador to lodge a formal protest.

Announcing the change of policy by Australia’s centre-left government, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.

“We will not support an approach that undermines” a two-state solution, she said, adding: “Australia’s embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv.”

In 2018 a conservative government led by Scott Morrison followed then US president Donald Trump’s lead in recognizing west Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

The move caused a domestic backlash in Australia and caused friction with neighbouring Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation — temporarily derailing a free trade deal.

Jerusalem’s international status is recognized and its occupation by Israel considered illegal under international law. Most foreign governments avoid formally declaring Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel.

On the other hand, Palestinians have hailed Australia’s decision.

“We welcome Australia’s decision with regards to Jerusalem & its call for a two-state solution in accordance with international legitimacy,” the Palestinian Authority’s civil affairs minister, Hussein al-Sheikh, said on Twitter.