Israel fears Australia may simply recognize a Palestinian state after Canberra reversed its popularity of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, according to reports published Tuesday.
Australia said last Tuesday it would no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and would instead recognize Tel Aviv. The announcement by Australia’s centre-left Labor Party government revoked a resolution made in 2018 by the previous Conservative government.
Prime Minister Yair Lapid criticized the resolution and the Foreign Ministry summoned the Australian ambassador for a defamation attack, telling him the move was a “bad resolution. “
An Israeli official connected the harsh reaction to Israel’s considerations that Australia’s left-wing government might stick to the detection of a Palestinian state.
“That’s why we reacted so strongly and we are sure the message was conveyed,” the official told the Walla news site. He also said Israel took Australia’s announcement by surprise.
The official did not elaborate on considerations that Canberra may simply recognize a Palestinian state, however, a separate report via Ynet News noted that the ruling Labour Party approved a commitment to do so in 2018.
A former senior Israeli diplomat told Ynet that Australia’s possible popularity of a Palestinian state is Israel’s main concern.
“We have taken a hit from the Australians, but it is far less than the popularity of a Palestinian state. We can only hope that this is what is happening,” the former diplomat said.
A senior official also criticized Australia’s handling of the announcement, opposing “all diplomatic protocol that no one has heard of. “
The official told Ynet that Australia did not give Israel any kind of warning before the announcement and claimed that Australia’s ambassador to Israel was not even aware of this resolution in advance.
In addition to its pledge to recognize a Palestinian state, Australia’s center-left Labor Party also pledged to rescind then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s popularity of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. -take it all and without profit” and put Australia “out of sync” with the foreign community.
Wong announced the overthrow of West Jerusalem on Tuesday in reaction to a media report on the issue. He said Jerusalem’s prestige deserves to be through Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, not unilateral decisions.
Lapid called the announcement “a hasty reaction to news in the media. “
“We can expect the Australian government to handle other issues in a more serious and professional way,” Lapid said. “Jerusalem is the eternal capital of united Israel and nothing will ever replace it. “
The Foreign Ministry, which Lapid also heads, said Israel “expresses deep disappointment” at the move, calling it “myopic political considerations. “The ministry said the government is contemplating additional measures in response.
Wong had denied last Tuesday that there had been a change in policy, but hours later said the resolution taken four years ago by a Conservative government “caused clashes and misery in part of the Australian community, and now the government is pursuing that. “. “
Wong accused Morrison’s government of being motivated through an election through a beachfront suburb of Sydney with a giant Jewish community. ” she said.
Wong insisted that the existing resolution signified any hostility toward Israel.
“Australia will be an unwavering friend of Israel. We were among the first countries to officially recognize Israel,” he said. “We will not hesitate to help Israel and the Jewish community of Australia. We are also steadfast in our aid to the Palestinians. “people, adding humanitarian assistance.
Canberra’s resolution came amid confusion after Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported on Monday that Australia’s Foreign Ministry had removed text on the West Jerusalem detection from its website.
The deleted text described “West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel” and noted that Australia “looks forward to moving its embassy to West Jerusalem when possible, during and after the last prestige of a two-state solution. “
According to The Guardian, the site was updated after briefing the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs on the government’s position on Jerusalem’s prestige.
Morrison’s resolution in 2018 won a combined reception in Israel at the time, with many politicians accusing the resolution that it was not enough, of not recognizing the entire city as the capital of the Jewish state and of retaining Australia’s embassy in Tel Aviv. The previous year, the United States states, under then-President Donald Trump, identified Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and then moved the U. S. embassy there.
Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. Israel captured East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War and then annexed it in a never-identified move through the foreign network. For decades, the foreign network has argued that the city’s prestige should be negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians. Critics say singling out Jerusalem as anyone’s capital inflames tensions and prejudges the latest results of the most prestigious peace talks.
He contributed to this report.
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