After the infamous move, of the United States, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Australia now is considering moving its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as well.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country remained committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while his political opponents said Mr Morrison’s comments were a “deceitful” ploy for votes ahead of a crucial by-election.
Last December, US President Donald Trump reversed decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem, enraging the Palestinians and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.
Australia was firm in its refusal to follow suit at the time, however Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in parliament he was now “open-minded” about doing so, while not changing Australia’s policy of support for a Palestinian state.
Morrison is Australia’s first Pentecostal prime minister, and attends the Horizon megachurch, a branch of Assemblies of God.
