Australia now recognises west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Prime Minister Scott 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,” Morrison said in a speech in Sydney.
Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital.
Most foreign nations avoided moving embassies there to prevent inflaming peace talks on the city’s final status — until Trump unilaterally moved the US embassy there earlier this year.
“We look forward to moving our embassy to west Jerusalem when practical, in support of and after final status of determination,” Morrison said, adding that work on a new site for the embassy was under way.
In the interim, the prime minister said, Australia would establish a defence and trade office in the west of the holy city.
“Furthermore, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution, the Australian government is also resolved to acknowledge the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in east Jerusalem,” he added.
Morrison first floated the shift in foreign policy in October, the move angered Australia’s immediate neighbour Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim nation — and put a halt on years-long negotiations on a bilateral trade deal.
The country’s foreign ministry responded on Saturday by saying it “notes” the decision.
