Australia stands by Jerusalem decision despite backlash

Australia would continue to respect a two-state outcome that remained our goal as strongly as ever. Scott Morrison,

Australian PM

sydney — Australia’s conservative prime minister on Sunday stood by his decision to recognise west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite criticism from neighbouring Muslim countries.

Canberra became one of a handful of governments to follow US President Donald Trump’s lead and recognise the contested city as Israel’s capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced Saturday.

But a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv — a proposal made during a crucial Sydney by-election that critics said was timed to attract Jewish voters — will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved.

Australia’s Muslim-majority neighbour Malaysia said on Sunday it “strongly opposes” the decision to recognise west Jerusalem. The announcement was “premature and a humiliation to the Palestinians and their struggle for the right to self-determination,” the government said in a statement advocating a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Australia’s immediate neighbour Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, was angered by the embassy move proposal in the run-up to the by-election, and said it “notes” the decision. Citing Jakarta’s response, Morrison said on Sunday that the international reaction had been “measured” and that his decision would progress a two-state solution.

“I think the responses that we have seen from countries so far has been measured,” Morrison said.

“Australia would continue to respect a two-state outcome that remained our goal as strongly as ever.” Israel’s embassy in Canberra on Sunday said the decision was a “step in the right direction”.

Most foreign nations avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city’s final status — until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy earlier this year.