Australian PM considers moving Israel embassy to Jerusalem
On Tuesday, October 16, the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison said that he is “open-minded” to formally recognize Jerusalem that capital of Israel and considering to move Australian embassy from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.
Morrison said that he believe in two-state solution but no progress has been seen on this matter, he said, “We are 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 the different results”.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu appreciated Morrison’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move embassy to Jerusalem. Netanyahu said that he spoke to Morrison recently and thanked him for this decision.
Netanyahu wrote on twitter, “I spoke today with Australian PM @ScottMorrisonMP. 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 for this. We will continue to strengthen ties between”.
I spoke today with Australian PM @ScottMorrisonMP. 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 🇮🇱 & 🇦🇺!
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 15, 2018
Some policy experts expected US influence behind Australia’ decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel but PM Morrison denied of any US influence behind his decision saying that Australia makes its decisions independently.
Morrison said, “I have made this decision without any reference to the United States. It has not come up in any discussion I have had with the president or with the officials”.
He said, “Australia makes its decisions about its foreign policy independently. We do so in our own national interests consistent with our own beliefs and our own values”.
