Australia reverses recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

FILE PHOTO: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a news conference on the sidelines the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York

FILE PHOTO: Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, New York, US, September 20, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

SYDNEY — Australia on Tuesday reversed the previous government’s recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said the issue should be resolved as part of peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

“Australia is committed to a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist, in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong said during a media briefing.

“We will not support an approach that undermines this prospect.”

In 2018, the conservative coalition government led by Scott Morrison formally recognized west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy.

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