Labor Government reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Less than 24 hours after assuring Australians no change had been made, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced the Government would no longer recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting today, Wong said Australia remained a steadfast friend of Israel, and an unwavering supporter of the Palestinian people.

"Today, the government has reaffirmed Australia's previous and long-standing position that Jerusalem is a final status issue, a final status issue that should be resolved as part of any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people," she said.

"Australia's embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv."

The Foreign Minister’s statement came after it was reported yesterday that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) had updated its website to remove reference to West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Guardian reported the website change as an indication of a quiet change of policy.

Last night the Foreign Minister's office release a statement saying there had been no change in government policy.

“The Australian Government continues to consider the final status of Jerusalem as a matter to be resolved as part of any peace negotiations. The former Government made the decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. No decision to change that has been made by the current government. Australia remains a longstanding friend and strong supporter of Israel,” the statement said.

The Morrison’s government made the move to officially recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital after the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Australia’s embassy remains in Tel Aviv. The decision was made just before a by-election for Wentworth, a seat with a large Jewish population, and Senator Wong accused the former prime minister of making the move as "a cynical, unsuccessful, play to win the seat of Wentworth and a by-election".

When the Morrison government announced the change in 2018, Wong, then Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, said Labor did not  support unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and “in government would reverse this decision”.

In its country brief on Israel, DFAT retains the wording used by the previous government. Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state co‑exist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders.”

But in the past few days it has deleted two sentences from its website that were first added after then prime minister Morrison unveiled a new Australian policy four years ago.

The freshly deleted sentences said: “Consistent with this longstanding policy, in December 2018, Australia recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of the Israeli government. Australia looks forward to moving its embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of, and after the final status determination of, a two-state solution.”

Senator Wong said, ""The updating of the website occurred ahead of government processes. That happens sometimes. I am not going to blame anybody for that. That happens. That is why I am also here, today, making sure we are clear about our position and I want to make sure that the website did reflect the position I articulated."

The Jewish Independent understands that both Parliamentary Friends of Israel and leaders of the Jewish community were taken by surprise at the website change and had not been consulted. The issue was taken to cabinet after being pushed by media who had brought the issue to DFAT's attention.

Jewish community leaders were not available for comment due to the Simchat Torah holiday, but it is the community’s longstanding position that West Jerusalem, the seat of Israel’s Parliament, is the country’s capital.

Unlike East Jerusalem, which is subject to final status negotiations over 1967 disputed territories, West Jerusalem has been part of Israel since the establishment of the state in 1948.

READ MORE

Labor reverses decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel capital (ABC)

No change on Jerusalem recognition, says Penny Wong (The Australian)

Australia quietly drops recognition of West Jerusalem as capital of Israel (Guardian)

Photo: Foreign Minister Penny Wong (Wikimedia)