Palestinians slam Australia's move to recognize Jerusalem

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Palestinian leaders slammed on Saturday Australia's recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, describing it as "irresponsible" and a violation of international law.

Earlier in the day, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the country will formally recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital but said it will not move its embassy from Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is reached.

He added that Australia is open to recognizing a future state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem after a settlement has been reached on a two-state solution.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that Australia will recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel during a speech at the Australian Institute in Sydney, December 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement, "From the beginning, we've perceived the Australian government's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital as one wherein petty domestic politics steer irresponsible policies that contradict world peace and security."

He added that all of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations and stressed that East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory.

U.S. President Donald Trump drew international criticism last year when he reversed decades of American foreign policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The U.S. embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May.

(Top image: Dozens of people protest against the plan to relocate the Australian embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in front of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 27, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP