Reactions to the announcement

Politicians have joined Jewish communal organisations in expressing their concerns over Labor reversing the government’s recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital:

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Jillian Segal and co-CEOs Peter Wertheim and Alex Ryvchin:
“We are extremely disappointed by the Government’s decision to withdraw Australia’s recognition of west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel without public consultation or opportunity for public debate, and in a conspicuously opaque manner. Stakeholders have simply been presented with a fait accomplit. That is not consultation. 

“The timing of this morning’s cabinet decision was clearly media-driven. The status of Jerusalem is an important foreign policy issue, and it is demeaning for Australia to have its international position changed in such a shoddy manner. This Government has been highly critical of the previous Prime Minister for making key policy decisions “by stealth” to evade “public accountability”. The government’s decision to change Australia’s position on west Jerusalem suffers from precisely these defects. 

“Aside from being poor policy, the withdrawal of Australia’s recognition that Israel’s capital is in Jerusalem is a gratuitous insult to a key economic and strategic ally, with no countervailing benefit for Australians. This is no way to treat an ally whose intelligence-sharing with Australia has prevented at least one terrorist attack against Australians that we know of. 

“This decision panders to the most extreme elements of the Labor Party and will also serve as a disincentive for the Palestinians to return to negotiations. Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel, the site of its parliament, supreme court, Ministerial offices and President’s residence. West Jerusalem has been part of Israel’s territory since the State was established in 1948. 

The arguments advanced by opponents of recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, namely that it would ignite unrest in the Arab world, were shown to be manipulative and inaccurate, as five Arab countries have signed normalisation agreements with Israel in the intervening period. 

“We further note with regret that this decision was communicated to us on the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, when we were precluded from making any public response. There is a bitter irony in the fact that the government made its decision in the way that it did on a day when Jews celebrate receiving the Torah, the ethical basis of western civilisation.” 

Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler:
“The decision by the Albanese Government to reverse Australia’s recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is deeply disappointing and counterproductive to achieving the Government’s objective of a two-state solution. Every other sovereign country is allowed to determine the location of its capital. Israel should be treated no differently. When the previous government recognised west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it was recognising the reality on the ground – something that every Australian Government in effect acknowledges when they visit the Prime Minister of Israel and the Knesset in Jerusalem. Every single proposal to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has west Jerusalem remaining the capital of Israel. Recognising this does not in any way pre-determine the outcome of negotiations.

“The decision today has been welcomed by Hamas – an organisation designated by the Australian Government as a terrorist organisation. That alone should cause the Albanese Government to reflect on this decision. Sadly, in making this decision, the Albanese Government is holding the State of Israel to a different standard to any other sovereign nation and doing so will reward those who refuse to recognise the reality on the ground and negotiate a much-needed resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein:
“This decision by the Government is not only deeply disappointing, but appears a pointless own goal, undermining the Government’s self-declared policy of seeking to encourage a negotiated two-state Israeli-Palestinian peace. The reversal also risks denting Australia’s credibility with some of our closest allies.

“In 2018, the Morrison Government recognised west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, whilst acknowledging that the Palestinians seek a state with their capital in east Jerusalem. This should not be controversial and predictions of violence and blowback in the Arab world as a result of the announcement never occurred. Although we appreciate that the Labor Party was critical of the Morrison Government for announcing the change during a byelection, all that announcement did was simply recognise the reality that west Jerusalem has been sovereign Israeli territory since 1948 and Israel’s capital since 1950 – well before Israel took control over the West Bank or any controversies related to this.

“West Jerusalem will always be part of Israel and no serious peace proposal has ever suggested Israel should give it up. So the decision to withdraw recognition of Israel’s right to choose its own capital on its own sovereign territory is frankly bizarre.

“Furthermore, this decision is likely to further encourage the rejectionist tendencies of the Palestinian Authority which has spent the past 20 years rebuffing Israeli peace offers, and has refused to restart the peace talks it abandoned in 2014. By treating Israel differently to all other countries, the government is effectively rewarding this Palestinian intransigence, making Palestinian leaders even less likely to negotiate or compromise.”

Member for Macnamara Josh Burns MP:
“Israel has designated its capital as Jerusalem. It’s where its Government buildings are and where its Parliament sits. Capital cities are sovereign decisions for countries.”

“I didn’t like the Morrison Government playing politics with these sensitive issues, and it’s my view that any further alteration to Australia’s policy needed to be considered extremely carefully.

To my disappointment, this did not happen.

“I know people in my electorate and across Australia are hurt by this decision, and to be honest, so am I. And in relation to the insensitive timing of this announcement on a holy day, I am sorry – that clearly shouldn’t have happened. 

“I know the past 24 hours have been extremely difficult for many people. It’s a reminder of the deeply held views that must be considered whenever we develop policy on the region. 

“What I’m focused on now is rebuilding trust between the Federal Labor Government and the Australian Jewish community, as well as developing sound and principled foreign policy in consultation with all impacted parties.”

Shadow Attorney General Julian Leeser:
“West Jerusalem has been part of the State of Israel since its establishment in 1948. The Knesset is there. The President lives there. The Supreme Court is there. It looks like any other capital city to me.

“It speaks volumes for the stupidity of the decision that it has been endorsed by two organisations – Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad – terrorist organisations listed in Australia.”

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender:
“I am very disappointed by the actions of the government in the last few days. The federal government’s decision to withdraw recognition of West Jerusalem was rushed and badly handled – made without proper consultation. Announcing the decision on a Jewish holiday was even worse, as it precluded community organisations from making a public response.

“Every sovereign nation, including Israel has the right to determine its own capital.

“Australia should play a constructive role in supporting a two-state solution, and these actions undermine our efforts without any gains. I am writing to the Foreign Minister to express my deep concerns.”

Senator James Paterson:
“Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. Nothing the Australian government says or does will change that. But our foreign policy is now based on a fiction and is in defiance of reality on the ground.

“The Albanese government asserts another city, not of Israel’s choosing, is in fact it’s capital. Israel is the only country in the world we insult this way. And in doing so we have grievously offended a friend and important ally, a fellow liberal democracy.

“The fact that the decision has been welcomed by listed terrorist organisations Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad says it all.

“The shambolic process has made a bad decision worse.”

Member for Bradfield Paul Fletcher:
“Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Labor’s decision to reverse Australia’s recognition of this fact – never mentioned during the recent election campaign – is a grave mistake.

“I will always stand up for Israel and for the Jewish people of the world and of Australia – and I will argue strongly that Australia should recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and establish Australia’s Embassy in Jerusalem, upon a Coalition return to government.”

Member for Caulfield David Southwick:
“What a disgrace that the Labor Government would try to sneak in a backward foreign policy position on  support for Israel, exactly when Jewish leaders are not able to speak up due to a religious holiday. 

“With ‘friends’ like these, who needs enemies?”

NSW MLC Walt Secord:
“As NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel deputy chair and the Labor Israel Action Committee NSW Patron, I am disappointed.”

Australian Reform Zionist Association president Helen Shardey and Union for Progressive Judaism co-presidents David Knoll and Brian Samuel:
“Not only is this decision bad policy, it’s bad in international law and a betrayal of the Australian Jewish community. Not a word of this was mentioned during the recent federal election, as the ALP pandered to the Jewish community for electoral support. 

“There is certainly no demonstrable benefit to Australia. On the contrary, why insult the one democracy in the Middle East, which is also an ally and helps protect Australians through a program of intelligence sharing?” 

Zionism Victoria president Yossi Goldfarb:
“Not only does it ignore the right of a sovereign nation to determine its own capital, it also ignores the facts on the ground – Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s government, home to its Parliament and highest courts. It is the location of national monuments and venue for national ceremonies. It is where visiting presidents and prime ministers – Australia’s included – meet with their counterparts and pay their respects to Israel’s and the Jewish people’s fallen.

“Penny Wong described Jerusalem as ‘a final-status issue’, declaring that its status ‘has to be resolved through negotiation between the parties’. There are a number of other key issues that can only, and must only, be resolved through negotiation. We can only hope that the government does nothing to pre-empt those issues ahead of a final settlement.”

Zionist Council of NSW:
“The disappointing decision of the Australian government to rescind the recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is both regretful and disregards the facts on the ground. West Jerusalem has never been in contention!

“It is all the more insensitive in the current situation when Israelis are being murdered and terrorised by Palestinian terrorists who receive salaries from the Palestinian Authority.

“The connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem is three thousand years old. Jerusalem is the centre of Jewish identity and history, and no decision will change that.”  

Norman and Barbara Miller, Indigenous Friends of Israel:
“Who is Australia to be telling another nation where its capital is? How insulting! No wonder Hamas has congratulated Australia for the decision.

“The decision by the Albanese government that West Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel flies in the face of the Abraham Accords with the increasing cooperation of Arab states with Israel. Australian foreign policy needs to be more mature in this area and aware of the new face of the Middle East.”

StandWithUs:
“Jerusalem is the heart and soul of Israel and the Jewish people. To revoke recognition of the Jewish people’s holiest city as the capital of the Jewish state is unjust and ludicrous.”

Australian Jewish Association president David Adler:
“The Albanese government announcement will not help peace but will embolden enemies of Israel including jihadist terrorist groups, to maintain demands disconnected from reality and continue violence.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chairman Dvir Abramovich:
“I would remind Foreign Minister Wong that having embassies outside Jerusalem since Israel’s founding has not resulted in a resolution of the conflict.  This announcement will not spur the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiating table and to work towards a viable and secure two-state solution. It will simply embolden and award the rejectionist and violent elements within the PLO and does nothing to advance the cause of peace.”