Australia’s Palestinian community has welcomed the government’s decision to no longer label West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying they have been used as a “political football” in debate over the Holy City.
But a peak Zionist group has described the decision as “very disappointing”, saying the way it was handled had caused deep hurt in Australia’s Jewish community.
The move, announced by Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday, reversed former prime minister Scott Morrison’s controversial decision to label West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem, host to holy sites for Jews and Muslims, as their capital. Australia had recognised Tel Aviv as the capital until 2018, and still maintains its embassy in the city.
Nasser Mashni, vice president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, said Australia’s Palestinian population had consistently been made an “other” and excluded from public debate, portrayed as “one organic mob of bearded, screaming Islamo-fascists”.
But Mr Mashni was “heartened” by Labor’s reversal, which he said moved Australia back to the international consensus.
“The really hurtful thing is that Australian Palestinians are this political football. We’re never consulted,” he said.
“We’re contributing Australians. We participate in the vibrancy, in the democracy that is Australia, but we’re not considered.
Read the article by Finn McHugh in The Canberra Times.