The government looked at relocating the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem less than six months ago but rejected it on a number of grounds including security, geopolitical consequences, cost and need.

As ministers and senior MPs in the Morrison government bicker publicly over whether to shift the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, The Australian Financial Review understands the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was consulted when the Turnbull government examined the move several months ago, following the decision in May by Donald Trump to shift the US embassy.