The Albanese Government has been slammed for blindsiding Israel by reversing Australia’s decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the capital - a move which has sparked a diplomatic row between two allies.
The move to revert the previous Morrison Government’s stance prompted fierce backlash from Israel and had led to Australia’s Ambassador being summoned to explain the decision.
Simon Birmingham described the Albanese Government’s snap decision as “shambolic” and said the Prime Minister should apologise for failing to show “basic, diplomatic courtesies”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage “He should have got on the phone to him before this decision was made, consulted on the decision and advised and informed before it was being publicly announced.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday confirmed the government was going back to Australia’s traditional stance, which is recognising Tel Aviv as the capital. "In light of the way in which this decision was made in Australia, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian Government manages other matters more seriously and professionally," he said in a statement.Before Ms Wong’s announcement the Department of Foreign Affairs had quietly removed the language used by the Morrison Government on Monday.
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