Australia reverses recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Australia has said it would no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing a contentious decision by the previous conservative government.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.

Wong said they will not support an approach that undermines” a two-state solution adding “Australia’s embassy has always been and remains, in Tel Aviv.”

In 2018 a conservative government led by Scott Morrison followed former US president Donald Trump’s lead in naming West Jerusalem as Israeli capital.

The move caused a domestic backlash in Australia and caused friction with neighboring Indonesia — the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation — temporarily derailing a free trade deal.