Arab states condemn Scott Morrison’s announcement but Israel welcomes ‘step in the right direction’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Australian government’s recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital has attracted mixed international reaction.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, confirmed the decision in a speech in Sydney on Saturday following months of speculation.

The idea was first floated during the Wentworth byelection and drew criticism from political rivals as a cynical ploy to buy votes in the largely Jewish electorate.

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It also attracted rebukes from south-east Asian trading partners, who feared the decision to wade into the multigenerational political quagmire could fuel unrest.

Malaysia came out strongly against the move, calling the decision “premature” and a “humiliation to the Palestinians”.

Israel’s foreign ministry commended the move as a step in the right direction, while the Palestinian chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat said it was born of Australian “petty domestic politics”.

“Israel views the decision of the Australian government to open its trade and defence office in Jerusalem as a step in the right direction,” a foreign ministry statement said.

“Israel congratulates the government of Australia for its stance regarding sanctions on Iran and also regarding its pro-Israel position at the UN and against antisemitism.”

Morrison said Australia would also recognise East Jerusalem as Palestine’s capital, something Trump has not said, though only after a settlement had been reached on a two-state solution.

The Australian embassy won’t be moved from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem until that solution is reached. But Australia does plan to establish a defence and trade office in Jerusalem, which Erekat said would violate a UN resolution.

“The policies of this Australian administration have done nothing to advance the two-state solution,” he said in a statement.

“All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory.”

Morrison defended the move saying it was about exploring options that could help bring about a two-state solution and conclusion to the political stalemate.

The Arab League’s assistant secretary general for Palestine and the occupied Arab territories, Saeed Abu Ali, condemned Australia’s decision as a break with the international community’s position that disregarded international law.

In a statement, he said it was “blatantly biased towards the positions and policies of the Israeli occupation”.

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Israel occupied Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day war and later annexed it, declaring the entire city its “eternal and indivisible capital.” Palestinians claim the eastern part as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

A delayed multibillion-dollar trade deal with Indonesia is now expected to be on shaky ground as a result of the announcement.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry spokesman, Arrmanatha Nasir, noted that Australia had not moved its embassy to Jerusalem and called on all members of the UN to recognise a Palestinian state “based on the principle of two-state solutions”.

James Massola (@jamesmassola) Official response from the Indonesian foreign ministry to the Jerusalem decision. Relatively restrained. But no mention of when the FTA will be signed. And the million dollar question is whether, or to what extent, domestic politics will influence what happens next. @smh @theage pic.twitter.com/Eg1dkJzdiN

Australian Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters contributed to this report