Australia reaffirms West Jerusalem decision despite backlash

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Europe

Australia's conservative prime minister on Sunday stood by his decision to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, despite criticism from neighboring Muslim countries.

Canberra became one of a handful of governments to follow U.S. President Donald Trump's lead and recognize the contested city as Israel's capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison had announced Saturday.

But a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv - a proposal made during a crucial Sydney by-election that critics said was timed to attract Jewish voters - will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved.

Australia's Muslim-majority neighbor Malaysia said Sunday it "strongly opposes" the decision to recognize West Jerusalem.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad criticized Australia's move to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying countries had “no rights” to do so.

Australia's move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in May, which infuriated Palestinians and the wider Islamic world and upset Western allies.

“Jerusalem should remain as it is now and not the capital of Israel,” Mahathir said on the sidelines of an event in Bangkok.

The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) also condemned in a statement on Saturday Australia's recent decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"The decision is a dangerous violation of the international legal status of the city of Jerusalem and the relevant legitimacy resolutions," said Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary general for the occupied Palestinian and Arab lands.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces that Australia will recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, December 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

Australia's immediate neighbor Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, was angered by the proposed embassy move and said on Saturday that it "notes" the decision.

Citing Jakarta's response, Morrison said Sunday that the international reaction had been "measured" and that his decision would progress a two-state solution.

While Australia's move has angered some countries, there are also supporters.

Israel's embassy in Canberra on Sunday said the decision was a "step in the right direction". And the foreign minister of Bahrain has defended Australia's formal recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, saying the move would not affect a future Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital.

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 U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally moved the U.S. embassy earlier this year.

Palestinians slam Australia's move to recognize West Jerusalem as capital of Israel

(Cover Photo: Dozens of people strike a protest against the plan to relocate the Australian Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Jakarta, Indonesia, November 27, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency