The Labor government’s decision to cease recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is damaging and perplexing. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has failed to articulate any national interest reason for this abrupt reversal in Australian foreign policy. And the government’s failure to inform Israel before announcing such a far-reaching decision, a common courtesy in international relations, has needlessly harmed an important bilateral relationship.
The rollout of this policy shift has been a shambles. On Monday evening, after changes were noticed on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the official language describing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the Foreign Minister’s office was telling journalists there was no change to Australian policy. Twelve hours later, a complete reversal was announced by Wong.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid is a good friend of Australia. He spent a gap year here at a Jewish youth camp. But even he reacted with astonishment, saying: “We can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally.”
In withdrawing recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the Labor government is damaging its relationship with a close and trusted partner.
Australia’s relationship with Israel delivers us genuine value in technology, intelligence, counter-terrorism and defence. It is our closest and most reliable partner in the Middle East, an unstable region from which many security threats to Australia emanate.
Read the article by Dave Sharma in The Australian.