Canberra cancels decision to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Foreign Minister Penny Wong: Australia is committed to a two-state solution

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - The Australian government overturned the previous government's decision, regarding the recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, assessing the previous decision caused a change in the position of the Kangaroo Country.

Emphasizing that the ruling Labor Party's support for Israel and the Palestinians is unwavering, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the country's position back to what it was before.

"Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state live side by side, in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders," said Foreign Minister Wong, launching CNN on October 18.

"We will not support an approach that undermines this prospect."

The previous Australian government, led by former Coalition Prime Minister Scott Morrison, recognized West Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2018, following an announcement made by former US President Donald Trump.

Foreign Minister Wong told reporters PM Morrison's decision "puts Australia out of the way of the majority of the international community", and was greeted with concern by neighboring Muslim-majority Indonesia, as quoted by Reuters.

"I regret that Mr. Morrison's decision to play politics has resulted in a shift in Australia's position, and the suffering of this change has caused many people in the Australian community to care deeply about this issue," said Foreign Minister Wong.

Morrison's administration marked the embassy move from Tel Aviv just days before a by-election in Sydney's electorate with strong Jewish representation, which remains outclassed by his Liberal party.

It is known, Trump changed seven decades of US foreign policy by declaring the United States considered Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017, The following year, the US moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Before Trump's announcement, successive US leaders had refused to make any statements on this issue before the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was resolved. Trump's decision drew condemnation from world leaders and sent shockwaves throughout the Muslim world.