The Albanese Government has been slammed for blindsiding Israel by reversing Australia’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital – a move which has sparked a diplomatic row between two allies.
Shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham has demanded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologise to his Israeli counterpart over the decision to reverse Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital.
The move to revert the previous Morrison Government’s stance prompted fierce backlash from Israel and had led to Australia’s Ambassador being summoned to explain the decision.
Mr Birmingham described the Albanese Government’s snap decision as “shambolic” and said the Prime Minister should apologise for failing to show “basic, diplomatic courtesies”.
“This is a completely unnecessary decision by the Albanese Government, handled in the most shambolic of ways,” Mr Birmingham told Sky News Australia.
“He (Albanese) should have got on the phone to him before this decision was made, consulted on the decision and advised and informed before it was being publicly announced.
“The test now is whether he will get on the phone and apologise for the shambolic way in which it was handled.
“He should be apologising for failing to at least show the basic, diplomatic courtesies of engagement prior to an announcement.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday confirmed the government was going back to Australia’s traditional stance, which is recognising Tel Aviv as the capital.
Watch the report by Joseph Huitson on Sky News.