RAMALLAH, Saturday, December 15, 2018 (WAFA) – Despite Palestinian warnings to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel is a violation of international law, Morrison went ahead on Saturday and officially recognized “West Jerusalem” as Israel’s capital while stressing that Australia is going to recognize East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine once there a peace settlement between the Palestinians and Israel.

Hanan Ashrawi, member of Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), had expressed in a letter to Morrison on Friday the Palestinian leadership‘s “grave concern” about a possible shift in Australia‘s foreign policy and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel‘s capital.

She called on him to ensure Australia‘s strict adherence to its obligations under international law and advised against any violation of or deviation from relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Ashrawi said that violating the legal status of Jerusalem "would be unilateral, illegal, and would jeopardize the chances for peace."  She had warned that such a step would be a provocation that threatens to further destabilize the region, stressing at the same time that a potential change in Australia‘s foreign policy position would constitute a departure from the global rule of law and undermine its standing and economic interests worldwide.

Morrison said that even though Australia has recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, it will not move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the city until a peace settlement is reached between the Palestinians and Israel.

“The Australian government has decided that Australia now recognizes West Jerusalem ... is the capital of Israel, and we look forward to moving our embassy to West Jerusalem when practical, in support of, and after, final-status determination.”

He also said his government will recognize a future Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem after a settlement has been reached on a two-state solution.

M.K.