Israel PM Lapid slams Australia’s decision to drop recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital
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Roshan Amiri
- . October 18, 2022
- . Update: October 18, 2022 7:43 pm
Israeli prime minister, Yair Lapid, has criticized decision by Australia’s Labor Party’s decision of dropping the recognition of West Jerusalem as that capital of Israel. Australia’s ambassador in Israel has been summoned to explain the decision by government of Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia.
Lapid has described the move as a “hasty response,” adding, “We can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.” The Israeli Prime Minister added in the statement released by his office, “Jerusalem is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that.”
Prime Minister Lapid in response to Australia’s announcement:
"In light of the way this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 18, 2022
“The center-left Labor Party government Cabinet agreed to again recognize Tel Aviv as the capital and reaffirmed that Jerusalem’s status must be resolved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong had said announcing the decision by government. “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.”
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In 2018, the former conservative Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison had formally recognized West Jerusalem as capital of Israel. However, the Australian embassy has continued to remain in Tel Aviv. The change by Morrison government was after a decision by then US President Donald Trump of shifting the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Wong said the former prime minister Scott Morrison had attempted to play politics with foreign policy “in order to win votes in the seat”. She said, “For that reason, I made clear at the time, we reaffirmed our view that Jerusalem is a final-status issue. What do those words mean? It means that has to be resolved through negotiation between the parties.”
Wong has further stressed that the decision does not signal any kind of hostility towards Israel. “Australia will always be a steadfast friend of Israel. We were amongst the first countries to formally recognize Israel,” she said. “We will not waver in our support of Israel and the Jewish community in Australia. We are equally unwavering in our support of the Palestinian people, including humanitarian support.”
