Canberra, led by center-left Labor Party, reverses 2018 decision by previous government to offer formal recognition, after previously denying policy change.
SYDNEY, Australia — Australia said Tuesday it would no longer recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing a 2018 decision by the previous conservative government.
The center-left Labor Party government Cabinet agreed to again recognize Tel Aviv as the capital and reaffirmed that Jerusalem’s status must be resolved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
Wong said the city’s status should be decided through peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and not through unilateral decisions.
Australia remained committed to a two-state solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and “we will not support an approach that undermines this prospect,” Wong said.
“Australia’s embassy has always been, and remains, in Tel Aviv,” she added.