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Australia could follow the initiative of US President Donald Trump and move his Israeli embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
Scott Morrison, the new Australian Prime Minister, said Tuesday he was "open to" after the move, which he described as "reasonable".
Morrison, an evangelical Christian, immediately asked if his religious views had played a role in his decision to present the proposal, which he denied. "My faith and my religion have nothing to do with this decision," he said.
Instead, he asserted that the status quo in Israeli-Palestinian relations had not progressed. "The orthodoxy that motivated this debate that said issues like that of the capital is taboo. I think we have to challenge that, "he said.
"We are engaged in a two-state solution, but frankly, it is not happening as well," he said. "Little progress has been made. And you do not keep doing the same thing and do not expect different results. "
Any initiative would run counter to a broad international consensus that the status of the holy city should be settled within the framework of a peace agreement. In 1967, Israeli forces occupied, then annexed, the eastern parts of the city, considered by the Palestinians as the capital of their future state.
In June, when the United States announced that it would move its embassy to Jerusalem, it triggered mass protests in Gaza, killing 58 Palestinians.
Since Trump's declaration last December, Israel has been trying to persuade other countries to follow suit. For nearly a year, this seemed unlikely since only Guatemala – a reliable ally for Israel – and Paraguay made this announcement. And Paraguay canceled its decision last month after a change of president.
The fact that the Australian Prime Minister even speaks of the possibility of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will be a big step forward. This will be seen as a victory in Israel and by Palestinian leaders, who see the steps of these embassies as a decisive step towards their aspirations for a state and the end of the occupation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to woo the Christian right, and evangelicals in particular, considering Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, in accordance with the biblical prophecy of Jesus' return and the Rapture.
Although this is a global arson issue, Australia's change in agreement appears to be the result of a local by-election at its predecessor's headquarters.
Wentworth, Sydney's blue electorate formerly owned by Malcolm Turnbull, has a large Jewish community and voters will go to the polls this weekend.
Morrison thanked his Liberal Party candidate, Dave Sharma, a former ambassador of Australia to Israel, for raising the issue. "Australia's position on this issue has, to date, assumed that it was not possible to consider the issue of recognition of the Israeli capital in Jerusalem and that this be compatible with the search for a two-state solution, "said Morrison.
"Now, Dave Sharma, who was an ambassador to Israel, proposed a few months ago a way forward that calls into question this reflection.It is said that you can reach both and indeed, by pursuing the two, you are helping actually cause for two state solution.
"Now, when people say sensible things, I think it's important to listen to them.
"And when sensible proposals are proposed that are consistent with your political position and in this case, seeking a two-state solution, Australia should be open to that and I am open to that and our government is open to it. 39; mind. for that."
Morrison insisted that the United States had not urged Australia to follow his example, but confirmed that he had spoken to Netanyahu.
Tuesday morning, Australian time, Netanyahu says in a tweet he had spoken to Morrison about the proposal. "I talked to you today with [Scott Morrison]. He informed me that he planned to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to move the Australian Embassy to Jerusalem. I am very grateful to him. We will continue to strengthen the links between [Australia and Israel]. "
Any action taken by Australia would be a change from the position taken by Turnbull when he was Prime Minister and by former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
National critics have already argued that the decision risks undermining Australia's long-standing commitment to a two-state solution.
Penny Wong, spokesperson for the Australian opposition for foreign affairs, hailed this decision. "Australia's foreign policy and national interests are far too important for us to play this way," she said.
"Instead of playing dangerous and misleading word games with Australian foreign policy in a desperate attempt to win votes, Scott Morrison should try to govern in ways that reflect the values of the Wentworth people by engaging them. in serious actions against climate change and legislating to protect citizens. teachers and students of discrimination, "said Wong.
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