Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that a move made by Canberra in 2018 had harmed the peace and placed her country out of line with other countries.
She emphasized that Australia continued to be a “steadfast ally” to Israel even after decades of separation. One of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians is the location and demographic makeup of Jerusalem.Yair Lapid, the Prime Minister of Israel, made the following statement in light of the manner in which this decision was made in Australia: “In light of the manner in which this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian go back on their decision.” In May 2018, the US embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
After a few months had passed, the then-Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, said that his administration would comply. Mr. Morrison’s cabinet was defeated in the May election. Australia’s current Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, referred to the previous administration’s decision as a “cynical play” on Tuesday, in light of the country’s upcoming election. She stated, “I regret that Mr. Morrison’s decision to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting position.” She emphasized the country’s “prior and longstanding” view that She said that this position should be reached “as soon as possible.”
The United Kingdom is now debating whether or not to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem, which currently only has diplomatic representation from Honduras, Guatemala, and Kosovo in addition to the United States. Despite the fact that Jerusalem is regarded by Israel as its “eternal and undivided capital,” Palestinians believe that East Jerusalem, which was seized by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967, should be the capital of any future Palestinian state. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict revolves, in large part, on the question of what should happen to Jerusalem. The international community has never acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, and the final status of Jerusalem is one of the topics that are supposed to be discussed in the later stages of the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
