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| Jerusalem embassy move a 'sensible' proposal, says Scott Morrison | Jerusalem embassy move a 'sensible' proposal, says Scott Morrison |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scott Morrison has flagged moving Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, copying Donald Trump’s controversial proposal, in a shift that appears timed to coincide with the Wentworth byelection. | Scott Morrison has flagged moving Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, copying Donald Trump’s controversial proposal, in a shift that appears timed to coincide with the Wentworth byelection. |
| Guardian Australia understands moving the embassy was discussed when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister, and Julie Bishop was foreign affairs minister, given Trump’s position – but the shift was dismissed out of hand as being not in Australia’s interests because it would counter the two-state solution, and also upset the relationship with Indonesia. | Guardian Australia understands moving the embassy was discussed when Malcolm Turnbull was prime minister, and Julie Bishop was foreign affairs minister, given Trump’s position – but the shift was dismissed out of hand as being not in Australia’s interests because it would counter the two-state solution, and also upset the relationship with Indonesia. |
| While government conservatives welcomed the shift, one senior moderate branded Morrison’s stance “completely mad” and predicted it would backfire in the Wentworth contest. “This will not pick up one vote.” | While government conservatives welcomed the shift, one senior moderate branded Morrison’s stance “completely mad” and predicted it would backfire in the Wentworth contest. “This will not pick up one vote.” |
| Morrison acknowledged the previous advice to government when speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, but declared he was “open-minded” on moving Australia’s diplomatic presence to Jerusalem and recognising Jerusalem as the capital. | Morrison acknowledged the previous advice to government when speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, but declared he was “open-minded” on moving Australia’s diplomatic presence to Jerusalem and recognising Jerusalem as the capital. |
| In another Trumpian shift, the prime minister said Australia would also review the Iran nuclear deal. | In another Trumpian shift, the prime minister said Australia would also review the Iran nuclear deal. |
| The prime minister dismissed questions about the timing of the announcement, and he insisted Australia remained committed to a two-state solution. “But frankly, it hasn’t been going that well. Not a lot of progress has been made, and you don’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results”. | The prime minister dismissed questions about the timing of the announcement, and he insisted Australia remained committed to a two-state solution. “But frankly, it hasn’t been going that well. Not a lot of progress has been made, and you don’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results”. |
| Morrison, an evangelical Christian, credited the Liberal party’s Wentworth byelection candidate Dave Sharma, a former Australian ambassador to Israel, with raising the issue, and suggesting a way forward. | Morrison, an evangelical Christian, credited the Liberal party’s Wentworth byelection candidate Dave Sharma, a former Australian ambassador to Israel, with raising the issue, and suggesting a way forward. |
| “When sensible suggestions are put forward that are consistent with your policy positioning and in this case pursuing a two-state solution, Australia should be open-minded to this and I am open-minded to this and our government is open-minded to this,” the prime minister said. | “When sensible suggestions are put forward that are consistent with your policy positioning and in this case pursuing a two-state solution, Australia should be open-minded to this and I am open-minded to this and our government is open-minded to this,” the prime minister said. |
| Asked by a reporter whether his faith played a role in the shift, given evangelical Christians had been the biggest supporters of Trump’s position on Jerusalem, Morrison issued a flat denial. “My faith and religion has nothing to do with this decision.” | Asked by a reporter whether his faith played a role in the shift, given evangelical Christians had been the biggest supporters of Trump’s position on Jerusalem, Morrison issued a flat denial. “My faith and religion has nothing to do with this decision.” |
| Morrison told reporters the Trump administration had not prevailed on Australia to mimic its stance, and the shift had been flagged with the Israelis. On Tuesday morning Australian time the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a tweet he had spoken to Morrison about the proposal. | Morrison told reporters the Trump administration had not prevailed on Australia to mimic its stance, and the shift had been flagged with the Israelis. On Tuesday morning Australian time the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a tweet he had spoken to Morrison about the proposal. |
| “I spoke today with [Scott Morrison]. He informed me that he is considering officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel & moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem. I’m very thankful to him for this. We will continue to strengthen ties between [Australia and Israel].” | “I spoke today with [Scott Morrison]. He informed me that he is considering officially recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel & moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem. I’m very thankful to him for this. We will continue to strengthen ties between [Australia and Israel].” |
| The current foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, said the government had briefed the Indonesian ambassador about its intentions “and communicated through our embassy in Jakarta with the Indonesian foreign minister”. | The current foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, said the government had briefed the Indonesian ambassador about its intentions “and communicated through our embassy in Jakarta with the Indonesian foreign minister”. |
| She said the conversations with Jakarta would continue. | She said the conversations with Jakarta would continue. |
| Wentworth, the blue-ribbon Sydney electorate formerly held by Malcolm Turnbull, has a large Jewish community and voters will go to the polls this weekend. | Wentworth, the blue-ribbon Sydney electorate formerly held by Malcolm Turnbull, has a large Jewish community and voters will go to the polls this weekend. |
| On Monday Sharma told an election forum he was “open” to moving the embassy. | On Monday Sharma told an election forum he was “open” to moving the embassy. |
| Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, has previously written that he believed Australia should “consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”. | Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, has previously written that he believed Australia should “consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital”. |
| Even if Australia did not move the embassy it should “at least consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital without prejudice to its final boundaries or potential status as capital of future Palestinian state,” he wrote on Twitter in May. | Even if Australia did not move the embassy it should “at least consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital without prejudice to its final boundaries or potential status as capital of future Palestinian state,” he wrote on Twitter in May. |
| “Where else do we disagree with a country about where its capital is.” | “Where else do we disagree with a country about where its capital is.” |
| On Tuesday Sharma denied that the announcement smacked of desperation ahead of this Saturday’s byelection. Almost 13% of the population of Wentworth is Jewish. | On Tuesday Sharma denied that the announcement smacked of desperation ahead of this Saturday’s byelection. Almost 13% of the population of Wentworth is Jewish. |
| He stressed that this was a review, but said “I think we should be open to considering the idea.” | He stressed that this was a review, but said “I think we should be open to considering the idea.” |
| “This is very much within the context of a two-state solution,” he said. | “This is very much within the context of a two-state solution,” he said. |
| “The idea that west Jerusalem would not be part of Israel in a two-state solution is ludicrous,” he said. | “The idea that west Jerusalem would not be part of Israel in a two-state solution is ludicrous,” he said. |
| Sharma said that many major government offices were already located there. | Sharma said that many major government offices were already located there. |
| He said the review is being conducted in context of the UN vote on a Palestinian taking over the chair of the G77, Sharma said. | He said the review is being conducted in context of the UN vote on a Palestinian taking over the chair of the G77, Sharma said. |
| Australia intends to vote against the resolution. | Australia intends to vote against the resolution. |
| Australia’s secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Frances Adamson, previously said the US embassy move had “not been helpful” and had made the peace process even more difficult. | |
| Earlier this year the US moved its embassy, effectively recognising Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Israeli forces shot and kill 58 Palestinians and wounded at least 1,200 after the decision sparked massive protests in Gaza. | Earlier this year the US moved its embassy, effectively recognising Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Israeli forces shot and kill 58 Palestinians and wounded at least 1,200 after the decision sparked massive protests in Gaza. |
| In June, after the Liberal party’s youth wing passed a motion supporting the move, the then foreign minister Julie Bishop said there was no chance of the government moving its embassy. | In June, after the Liberal party’s youth wing passed a motion supporting the move, the then foreign minister Julie Bishop said there was no chance of the government moving its embassy. |
| “While I understand the sentiment behind this resolution, the Australian government will not be moving our embassy to Jerusalem,” Bishop said at the time. | “While I understand the sentiment behind this resolution, the Australian government will not be moving our embassy to Jerusalem,” Bishop said at the time. |
| “Jerusalem is a final status issue and we have maintained that position for decades and we are doing all we can do to ensure that any support we give to the Palestinian Authority is only used for purposes that we determine.” | “Jerusalem is a final status issue and we have maintained that position for decades and we are doing all we can do to ensure that any support we give to the Palestinian Authority is only used for purposes that we determine.” |
| So far only the US and its ally Guatemala have moved their embassies to Jerusalem. | So far only the US and its ally Guatemala have moved their embassies to Jerusalem. |
| Internal critics of Morrison’s shift predicted Jewish voters in Wentworth would see the positioning in Canberra as patronising. One pointed out that a number of Jewish voters would have already cast their ballots in the weekend contest to avoid voting on the sabbath. | Internal critics of Morrison’s shift predicted Jewish voters in Wentworth would see the positioning in Canberra as patronising. One pointed out that a number of Jewish voters would have already cast their ballots in the weekend contest to avoid voting on the sabbath. |
| Bishop George Browning, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, was horrified. “I find the announcement extraordinary because it must be the first time in Australian political life that a government has tried to shore up its chances in a byelection by using foreign policy. | Bishop George Browning, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, was horrified. “I find the announcement extraordinary because it must be the first time in Australian political life that a government has tried to shore up its chances in a byelection by using foreign policy. |
| “The previous prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the previous foreign minister Julie Bishop resisted this for the very good reason that to move the embassy to Jerusalem is [the same] as agreeing with the Israeli prime minister that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel. | “The previous prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and the previous foreign minister Julie Bishop resisted this for the very good reason that to move the embassy to Jerusalem is [the same] as agreeing with the Israeli prime minister that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel. |
| “They’re immediately throwing out the policy of a two-state solution, which Australia has held for a very long time, decades, in order to shore up their chances in a local byelection. It’s disgraceful.” | “They’re immediately throwing out the policy of a two-state solution, which Australia has held for a very long time, decades, in order to shore up their chances in a local byelection. It’s disgraceful.” |
| Labor slammed the flagging of a possible change of policy on Israel and Palestine. The shadow foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, blasted the move. “Foreign policy, and Australia’s national interest are far too important to be played with in this fashion,” she said. | Labor slammed the flagging of a possible change of policy on Israel and Palestine. The shadow foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, blasted the move. “Foreign policy, and Australia’s national interest are far too important to be played with in this fashion,” she said. |
| “Instead of playing dangerous and deceitful word games with Australian foreign policy in a desperate attempt to win votes Scott Morrison should try governing in a way that reflects the values of the people of Wentworth by committing to serious action on climate change, and legislating to protect teachers and students from discrimination,” Wong said. ”The people of Wentworth, and all Australians, deserve a leader who puts the national interest ahead of his self-interest, and governs in the best long-term interest of the nation, not one prepared to play games with long-standing foreign policy positions five days out from a byelection”. | “Instead of playing dangerous and deceitful word games with Australian foreign policy in a desperate attempt to win votes Scott Morrison should try governing in a way that reflects the values of the people of Wentworth by committing to serious action on climate change, and legislating to protect teachers and students from discrimination,” Wong said. ”The people of Wentworth, and all Australians, deserve a leader who puts the national interest ahead of his self-interest, and governs in the best long-term interest of the nation, not one prepared to play games with long-standing foreign policy positions five days out from a byelection”. |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Scott Morrison | Scott Morrison |
| Wentworth byelection | Wentworth byelection |
| Israel | Israel |
| Coalition | Coalition |
| Penny Wong | Penny Wong |
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