WhatsappAustralian Prime Minister Scott Morrison gave a powerful pro-Israel speech, understanding the international hypocrisy vis a vis Israel. Yet his government’s recognition of “West” Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as opposed to Jerusalem, shows a continued fatal misunderstanding of the situation.
Australian Announcement
Australia formally recognized only West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, however, Australia will not be moving its embassy there immediately.
“Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel,” Morrison said.
Morrison said Australia would not move its embassy to West Jerusalem until the city’s final status was determined, but said trade and defense offices would be opened there.
He confirmed Australia’s support for a two-state solution with a Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem has always been a united city, except for 19 years when it was illegally occupied by Jordan, cutting the city into two, West and East. Before 1948, Jews lived throughout Jerusalem, but when Jordan conquered the Old City of Jerusalem in 1948 they expelled all the Jews to the Western side of the city, keeping the Eastern side Jew-free.
Israel liberated Jerusalem in 1967 and once again united the city of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem had been the capital of the Jewish people since King David established it as our capital thousands of years ago.
Back in 1948 there was no entity called “palestinians”, and there was no demand that Jerusalem be named the capital of a state called “Palestine”. For 19 years Jerusalem was illegally occupied by Jordan. If there ever was a true international need to claim part of Jerusalem for a people called “palestinians” it would have happened during the 19 years that the Jordanians occupied “East” Jerusalem, yet that never happened.
Best Reaction to the Announcement
Thank you Australia for recognising West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital! In return we have recognised North Canberra.
— The Mossad (@TheMossadIL) December 15, 2018
🎥 MUST WATCH Australian 🇦🇺 PM @ScottMorrisonMP showing other countries a lesson in how to stand by your friends. Thank you PM for your resolute and unwavering support of #Israel 🇮🇱 @KarenPierceUN @AlanDuncanMP @theresa_may @Jeremy_Hunt @foreignoffice @ukinisrael @DavidQuarrey pic.twitter.com/Ikcb7nWWqg
— Likud Herut UK (@LikudUK) December 20, 2018
MUST WATCH: Part of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s speech on international relations at the Sydney institute, he stressed how unfairly Israel is treated by the world. https://t.co/SlEdHcU6NJ
— Jewish Breaking News (@JBN) December 20, 2018
