Sydney _ Agencies
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison´s decision to formally recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as a "humiliating waiver" and "part of a serious foreign policy," was considered by the main Australia opposition on Sunday.
Penny Wong, leader of the main opposition Labor Party in the Senate, denounced the decision as "putting Australia outside the international community´s squadron," the Bloomberg News agency reported.
On Saturday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced his country´s official recognition of "West Jerusalem" as Israel´s capital, but would not immediately transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv.
In a speech on foreign policy at the Sydney Institute, Morrison also declared his commitment to recognize a future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital once a two-state permanent solution is reached, ending the 70-year-old conflict.
The Prime Minister explained that Australia would initially open a defence and trade office in West Jerusalem instead of the embassy, in a symbolic reference to the change in Australia´s policy.
Morrison expressed the hope that the move would lead to the stalled Middle East peace process, which he described as a "foul stalemate." The status quo has failed.
