The current Australian government on Tuesday decided to revoke the decision by the former Scott Morrison government to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Cabinet on Tuesday revoked the previous government’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, confirming the decision, said the issue pertaining to the capital should be resolved through peace talks between Israel and Palestine.
“Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognised borders,” Reuters quoted Foreign Minister Penny Wong as saying.
The Australian foreign minister also accused the former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, of taking the decision to consider West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital to win the seat of Wentworth in a byelection.
In 2018, former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison drew massive domestic flak for recognising West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“The previous government’s move in 2018 was a “cynical play, unsuccessful, to win the seat of Wentworth in a byelection”. She said the former prime minister Scott Morrison had attempted to play politics with foreign policy “in order to win votes in the seat,” the Guardian quoted Wong as saying.
While Scott Morrison has expressed his disapproval, saying that the decision would negatively impact the “high-water mark” established with the State of Israel by his government.
(With inputs from the Guardian and Reuters)
Source- INDIA TODAY
