Scott Morrison is facing growing internal division over his review considering the relocation of Australia’s embassy in Israel, with his cabinet colleagues split and backbenchers urging the government to either support moving it to Jerusalem or get back to focusing on “bread and butter issues”.
The Australian can reveal major splits emerging inside the Coalition over the Israel embassy issue, with more than a dozen backbenchers publicly supporting shifting Australia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
A smaller number of MPs, including Defence Industry Minister Steven Ciobo, have opposed the move, which has been strongly promoted by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg. Indonesia, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, delayed the signing of the Indonesia-Australian trade deal following Mr Morrison’s review of Australia’s diplomatic base in Israel.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce warned that in the face of China’s rise and shifting regional strategic circumstances, it was important to have Indonesia onside.
“We need to deal with the realities of the 21st century as they are, not as you would wish them to be,” Mr Joyce said.
Queensland senator Ian Macdonald said the relationship with Indonesia needed to be considered: “In the end result we need to make decisions that are important to Australia, bearing in mind particularly the part of the world in which we live and our relationships with our nearest neighbours.”
NSW senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said trade deals should not impact the decision to move the embassy.
Read the article by Primrose Riordan and Greg Brown in The Australian.