Tony Abbott has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to proceed with a controversial shift in policy on Israel despite a warning from Malaysia that the move could fuel terrorism and concerns from Indonesia over a $16.5 billion trade deal.
Mr Abbott said the “rhetorical backlash” from Muslim countries in Asia was always going to happen but that this should not stop Australia showing its support for Israel by moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The comments are another strong show of support for Mr Morrison on the issue after another former prime minister, John Howard, also spoke up for the move on the weekend.
Mr Abbott said west Jerusalem was recognised as the capital of Israel and was the logical location for the Australian embassy.
“However much we take seriously our large Muslim neighbours, neither Indonesia nor Malaysia have ever been accustomed to dictate our policy,” Mr Abbott told Sky News.
“We should make our decisions based on our national interests and our national values.
“And why shouldn’t we be showing solidarity with the only functioning liberal pluralist democracy in the Middle East, by supporting them and putting our embassy in their capital?”
Read the article by David Crowe in The Sydney Morning Herald.