Faiths unite in bid to move embassy to Jerusalem

Christian and Jewish groups have joined forces to push Scott Morrison over the move of Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem.

A view of Jerusalem. Picture: AFP

Christian and Jewish groups have joined forces to push Scott Morrison to endorse the move of Australia’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as the government contemplates putting a consulate in the Israeli capital.

The Christian and Jewish organisations, including the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem — which wrote the original US Embassy Act which Donald Trump enacted to shift the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem — has been urging the Australian government to shift its embassy for at least 12 months.

In a joint statement, the groups yesterday called “upon the Australian government to give formal recognition to Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel, and to announce the Australian embassy located in Tel Aviv will be relocated to Israel’s government precinct in Jerusalem as soon as feasible”.

The group, including the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Australian Jewish Association, Liberal Friends of Israel, Zionist Federation of Australia, Rabbinic Council of Australia and New Zealand, Advance Australia and Christians for Israel Australia, recently met officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and the head of Home Affairs, Mike Pezzullo.

Their campaign intensified after Mr Morrison announced during the Wentworth by-election that Australia would consider shifting its embassy to the traditional capital of Jerusalem.

Mr Morrison’s statement was criticised by Australia’s Islamic neighbours. He was accused of politicising foreign policy for domestic political gain.

There were also claims the move could increase danger to Australia of terror attacks and the cost would be too great to build or establish a whole new embassy in Jerusalem. The cost of a new US embassy is estimated to be $US22 million, much more than the original estimate.

Mr Morrison said he would “consider shifting” the embassy to Jerusalem as the US had done and would make a decision before Christmas.

The Australian understands one plan being considered is to leave the embassy in Tel Aviv but open a consulate in Jerusalem which would satisfy the principle of being in the ancient capital but avoid prohibitive cost. Australia has a “representative office” in Ramallah on the West Bank.

The Australian religious groups, estimated to represent about 400,000 people, told the government: “Jerusalem is Israel’s seat of government, and the location of the nation’s parliament, ministerial offices, supreme court, and the official residences of the president and prime minister.

“When government officials visit Israel, they meet in Jerusalem, when foreign ambassadors present their credentials in Israel, they do so in Jerusalem. Israel’s sovereignty over the western parts of the city is self-evident.

‘‘Recognition of Jerusalem is therefore a pragmatic acknowledgment of an existing reality that it is Israel’s functioning capital.

“By acknowledging Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel, the Australian government sends an important signal that it’s unacceptable to deny the Jewish people’s historical, religious and national ties to Jerusalem.’’