- The current Labor government announces that it is reversing the decision made by the previous executive in 2018.

- The status of the city "must be resolved within the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people," she says.

Panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem.

Australia backs down and stops recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel

The Australian Government, led by Labor Party member Anthony Albanese, announced on Tuesday that it is reversing the decision made by its predecessor in 2018 to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

"We reaffirm our view that [the status of] Jerusalem is a final status issue," Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Tuesday at a press conference in Canberra, insisting that its status "must be resolved as part of any peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian people.

Wong also noted that the Albanese government, whose Labor Party won the elections in May this year, ending nine years of conservative management, also has no intention of moving its embassy to West Jerusalem but will keep it in Tel Aviv.

With his decision, Australia resumes its traditional foreign policy of supporting Israel's coexistence with a future Palestinian state "in peace and security, within internationally recognized borders," Wong said in a statement.

After a meeting, this Tuesday of the Australian Cabinet, the head of Australian diplomacy stressed that the Executive of Canberra will recommit itself "in the responsible search for progress towards a just and lasting solution of two States".

The Labor Government also reaffirmed its "unconditional" friendship with Israel and its support for the Palestinian people.

Australia changed its policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the government of liberal Scott Morrison, when it announced in December 2018 the recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Thus Morrison followed in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump, who broke international consensus by recognizing Jerusalem as the Israeli capital in December 2017 and moving his embassy to the Holy City.

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