The Albanese government has reversed a decision by the previous coalition government to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the conflict between Israel and Palestine should be resolved through peace negotiations between the two.
Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital.
Senator Wong said Jerusalem remains a final-status issue, meaning its status is subject to the peace negotiations.
She described the move to recognise West Jerusalem by former prime minister Scott Morrison as purely political.
“The 2018 decision put Australia out of step with the majority of the international community and it was received with great concern,” she said on Tuesday.
“This was a cynical play, unsuccessfully, to win the seat of Wentworth at a by-election.”
She said Australia’s embassy “has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv”.
The foreign minister also reaffirmed Australia’s support for the Israeli community, as well as the Palestinian people.
“I regret that Mr Morrison’s decision to play politics resulted in Australia’s shifting position, and the distress these shifts have caused,” she said, expressing Canberra’s commitment to a two-state solution.
The decision was made by cabinet on Tuesday morning, but the Department of Foreign Affairs had moved ahead of the decision to update the Israel page on its website.
Read the article by Dominic Giannini in The West Australian (AAP).