SYDNEY – Australia is considering moving its embassy in Israel from TelAviv to Jerusalem, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Tuesday,following the lead of US President Donald Trump.
Morrison called a press conference to say he was “open-minded” to proposalsto formally recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move hisnation´s embassy to the holy city, a sharp break with the policy ofsuccessive Australian governments for decades.
“We’re committed to a two-state solution, but frankly it hasn’t been goingthat well, not a lot of progress has been made, and you don’t keep doingthe same thing and expect different results,” Morrison said.
He described proposals to recognise Jerusalem and move Australia’s embassyas “sensible” and “persuasive” and would be considered by the government.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying he haddiscussed the possible embassy move with Morrison.
“He informed me that he is considering officially recognizing Jerusalem asthe capital of Israel & moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem. I´mvery thankful to him for this,” Netanyahu tweeted.
The surprise announcement came just days before a crucial parliamentaryby-election in a Sydney district that has a significant Jewish electorateand where the candidate for Morrison’s Liberal party, a former ambassadorto Israel, is trailing in opinion polls.
A loss in the election would wipe out Morrison’s one-seat majority inparliament.
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“Scott Morrison is now so desperate to hang on to his job, he is preparedto say anything if he thinks it will win him a few more votes — even atthe cost of Australia´s national interest,” said the opposition Labourparty foreign policy spokeswoman Penny Wong.
Morrison came to power in August after a revolt by hardline conservativesin the Liberal party ousted his more moderate predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull.
Turnbull’s government had explicitly distanced itself from the decision byTrump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as “unhelpful” tothe peace process.
Morrison rejected suggestions that his decision to consider followingTrump’s lead was a result of US pressure or related to the by-election inSydney´s Wentworth district on Saturday.
“I have made this decision without any reference to the United States,” hesaid. “It has not come up in any discussion that I have had with thepresident or officials.”
Trump’s move ruptured decades of international consensus that Jerusalem’sstatus should be settled as part of a two-state peace deal between Israeland the Palestinians. – APP/AFP
