Saeb Erekat, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO)
Executive Committee, on Saturday criticized Australia over its
recognition of western Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while
East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the
occupied Palestinian territory. Australia's announcement to open a trade
office in the city negates its very claim that it abides by UN Security
Council Resolution 478, which refers to Israel’s annexation of
Jerusalem as null and void and calls upon countries to withdraw
diplomatic missions from the city,” said Erekat in a statement.
“In his announcement, Australian PM Morrison mentioned that the decision
was made in light of alleged Australian support for the two-state
solution. However, the policies of this Australian administration have
done nothing to advance the two-state solution,” he charged.
“In fact, Australia has chosen to join Trump, Netanyahu, and two other
governments, in voting against the two-state solution, in a UN
resolution supported by 156 nations. Additionally, the Australian
government is refusing to recognize Palestine as a state, voting in
international forums against the Palestinian right to
self-determination, and continuing to trade with Israeli settlements,”
continued Erekat.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday that his
country officially recognizes western Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel, though he stressed that the Australian embassy would not move to
West Jerusalem until a peace agreement was reached between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority (PA).
Morrison did say, however, that his government would establish an office in Jerusalem that would deal with security and trade.
Earlier on Saturday, a spokesman for the PA cabinet said that the
Australian government's decision to recognize western Jerusalem as the
capital of Israel was a "wrong step" and showed an incorrect
understanding of the political reality and decisions of the
international institutions on Jerusalem since 1947.
Australia’s move was actually welcomed by Bahrain, whose Foreign
Minister, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, said that "Australia’s position
does not hamper the legitimate demands of the Palestinians and first and
foremost East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital.”
The senior diplomat added, "It also does not contradict the Arab Peace Initiative.”
Morrison’s announcement about recognizing Jerusalem followed several
conflicting reports about whether he would actually go ahead with the
move.
On Tuesday, The Australian reported that the Australian government would
formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital city of the State of
Israel, but is not planning on relocating its embassy from Tel Aviv in
the near future.
Morrison later rejected that report, saying it was too early to discuss
such matters and that "when I’m in a position to make that announcement,
I will.”
By Thursday night, officials in Canberra said Morrison would make the
announcement on Saturday. Ahead of the expected announcement, Australia
warned citizens to take care while travelling in neighboring
Muslim-majority Indonesia
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