- Foreign minister Penny Wong says cabinet approved to reverse Scott Morrison 2018 decision 

By The South Asia Times

CANBERRA - Australia on Tuesday officially announced that the country has reversed a controversial decision by the previous Scott Morrison government to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Speaking at a news conference after the cabinet meeting in Canberra, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia is committed to international efforts in the responsible pursuit of progress towards a just and enduring two-state solution

"I want to make an announcement in relation to Jerusalem. Today, the Government has reaffirmed Australia's previous and longstanding position that Jerusalem is a final status issue, and a final status issue that should be resolved as part of any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian peoples," Wong told reporters, according to transcript issued from her office.

 "This reverses the Morrison Government's recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Australia's embassy, of course, has always been and remains in Tel Aviv," she added.

In 2018, then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government said it would recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital but would not move its embassy from Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is reached.

"The Australian Government remains committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state can coexist in peace and security within internationally recognised borders. We will not support an approach that undermines this prospect," Australian top diplomate said.

She accused the former Prime Minister Morrison to played politics to shifting Australia longstanding position and went against the majority of international community.

"What the people saw was the Prime Minister of the day trying to play foreign policy in order to win votes in a seat. For that reason, I made clear at the time we affirmed our view that Jerusalem is a final status issue. What do those words mean? It means that it has to be resolved through negotiation between the parties," she added.

In 2017, then-US President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of US policy of remaining neutral on the holy city.

Morrison also joined Trump to recognized  Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The US move triggered widespread protests in the Palestinian territories and several countries amid condemnations from Arab and Muslim countries.

Washington’s European allies also criticized the move, warning that the US decision would worsen relations between Palestinians and Israelis as well as spark unrest in the region.

Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, during the 1967 Middle East War. It annexed the entire city in 1980, claiming it as Israel’s “eternal” capital – a move never recognized by the international community.

International law views the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "occupied territory" and considers all Jewish settlement-building activity on the land to be illegal.

Palestinians accuse Israel of waging an aggressive campaign to "Judaize" the historic city by effacing its Arab and Islamic identity and driving out its Palestinian inhabitants.

*Background added from Anadolu Agency