Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday, but a contentious embassy shift from Tel Aviv will not occur until a peace settlement is achieved. “Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem — being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government — is the capital of Israel,” Morrison said in a speech in Sydney. Both Israel and the Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. In the interim, the prime minister said, Australia would establish a defense and trade office in the west of the holy city. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously hailed Morrison’s initiative.

Source: Egypt Independent December 15, 2018 04:18 UTC