Anthony Albanese faces caucus splits over Israel shift

Anthony Albanese has conceded the decision to drop recognition of West Jerusalem could have been better handled, as the US said it will continue to regard the city as Israel’s capital.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says ‘some things can always be done better’. Picture: PMO

Anthony Albanese has conceded his government could have more effectively handled the decision to drop Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, as the US said it would continue to regard the city as Israel’s capital.

As splits within the Labor caucus widened over the decision, the US embassy in Canberra on Wednesday reiterated its country’s position to recognise West Jerusalem “had not changed”.

The ultimate position of Jerusalem was a “final status issue” that should be resolved by negotiations between Israel and Palestine. “The US position is that our embassy will remain in Jerusalem, which we recognise as Israel’s capital,” a spokeswoman said.

Labor MP Josh Burns.

“The ultimate status of Jeru­salem is a final status issue which will need to be resolved by the parties in … direct negotiations.

Victorian ALP MP Josh Burns emphasised his “disappointment” that the policy change was not considered “extremely carefully”.

Mr Burns, whose Melbourne electorate of McNamara represents a large number of Jewish people, apologised for the “insensitivity” around the timing of the announcement on a holy day.

“I didn’t like the Morrison government playing politics with these sensitive issues, and it’s my view that any further alteration to Australia’s policy needed to be considered extremely carefully,” he said. “To my disappointment, this did not happen.”

Independent MP for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, on Wednesday said she would formally write to Foreign Minister Penny Wong to express “deep concern” at the policy change after it was made without consultation with the Jewish community. Ms Spender, whose eastern Sydney seat encompasses a large Jewish constituency, said sovereign nations had the right to determine their own capitals, and the government had undermined Australia’s efforts to support a two-state solution. The electorate was previously held by Liberal Dave Sharma, who was once Australia’s ambassador to Israel.

Zoe Daniel. Picture: Gary Ramage

Allegra Spender. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Senator Wong accused the Morrison government of recognising West Jerusalem as the capital in a 2018 bid to save Wentworth in a by-election. The Australian understands Ms Spender on Wednesday spoke to NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Darren Bark, who welcomed her “strong and unequivocal opposition” to the policy change. “I am very disappointed by the actions of the government in the last few days,” Ms Spender said.

“The federal government’s decision to withdraw recognition of West Jerusalem was rushed and badly handled – made without proper consultation. Announcing the decision on a Jewish holy day was even worse, as it precluded community organisations from making a public response.”

Her criticism comes after the Israeli embassy in Canberra and Australia’s Jewish community were blindsided by Senator Wong’s announcement and infuriated it came on a religious holy day that prevented their response.

Pressed on ABC radio about the handling of the policy decision, the Prime Minister said: “Of course, some things can always be done better.”

Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel said Labor had disrespected an important ally in its snap reversal of Australia’s recognition of West Jerusalem, labelling its handling “offensive and inappropriate”.

However, she said there were “significant” differences of opinion within the Jewish community on the policy change, noting some were critical and others supportive. “Australia’s emphasis must be on supporting a two-state solution under which the Israeli and Palestinian people coexist within ­secure and peaceful borders,” she said. “I note that there remain significant differences of opinion about this within the Jewish community – some profoundly critical and others supporting the current government’s decision.”

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham on Wednesday urged Mr Albanese to make contact with ­Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in a bid to diffuse diplomatic ­tensions.