Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Saturday announced that his government has formally recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. However, Australia will not be shifting its embassy to West Jerusalem until a peace agreement is reached between Israel and the Palestinians.
Morrison said, "Australia now recognises West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel." Australia had announced in October that it was interested in moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Morrison reiterated Australia's support for a Palestinian state, with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Australian announcement in October had infuriated its Muslim-majority neighbours, including Indonesia and Malaysia, neither of which recognise Israel.
US President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem in May had angered Arabs and western nations. Only two other nations—Guatemala and Paraguay—have announced similar decisions.
Paraguay had moved its embassy to Jerusalem in May, but a change in government in August saw the country reversing the decision. While new Paraguayan President President Mario Abdo Beníte said the desire for a “just and durable” peace was behind his move, Israel said the reversal would hit relations.
The status of Jerusalem is arguably the most serious point of contention between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel claims the whole of the ancient city—home to multiple holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Israel—as its rightful capital. However, Israel's annexation of the Arab-majority East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War was not accepted by the international community.
