Morrison risks Indonesia’s ire over Israel embassy move

Scott Morrison is facing a diplomatic backlash from key regional partner Indonesia over Australia’s policy on Israel.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Picture: AP

Scott Morrison is facing a diplomatic backlash from key regional partner Indonesia after texting President Joko Widodo on Monday night to inform him of Australia’s policy shift on Israel.

The Australian understands senior government officials reached out to Indonesia — a key backer of the Palestinian cause — in a move to counter a more ­severe reaction from Australia’s key security and strategic ­neighbour.

The Prime Minister’s shift on Israel, including the consideration of moving Australia’s ­embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, was welcomed by Jewish community groups yesterday.

The government is understood to have fast-tracked the decision because of a vote today in the UN General Assembly on the Palestinian Authority chairing a ­coalition of developing nations, leaving little time to inform ­affected countries and sparking an angry reaction from foreign diplomats in Canberra who are usually informed of major foreign policy changes weeks in advance.

Mr Morrison’s strong support for Israel and moves against the Iran nuclear deal stoked fears among Liberal strategists in ­western Sydney, which is home to a significant Muslim population. The Coalition is seeking to hold the marginal seats of Reid and Banks and win back Parramatta.

Speaking in Bondi yesterday, Wentworth Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, Australia’s former ambassador to Israel, reiterated his call to consider following US President Donald Trump and move Australia’s embassy to ­Jerusalem.

Mr Sharma insisted it was not a desperate last-minute move by the government ahead of Saturday’s poll.

“I don’t think any voters here are single-issue voters, I think they’re going to vote on any number of issues,” he said.

Independent Kerryn Phelps, Mr Sharma’s chief rival at Saturday’s by-election, declined to ­reveal her position.

“I will be seeking a briefing from security agencies in Can­berra should I be elected as the member for Wentworth this Saturday,” Dr Phelps said.

Amid hopes of finalising a free-trade deal with ­Indonesia this year, the ­Palestinian issue is viewed as a sensitive subject for Australia’s largest neighbour, the world’s most populous Islamic ­nation and a vocal supporter of the Palestinians’ ­aspirations to statehood. Mr Morrison contacted Mr Widodo on Monday night. Foreign Minister Marise Payne and foreign ministry officials also contacted their counterparts.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, who met with the Palestinian National Authority foreign minister on Tuesday, condemned the move yesterday.

While there was speculation it could affect the trade agreement, senior sources said this might be the case only if Australia moved its embassy to Jerusalem.

Josh Frydenberg, a prominent Jewish MP, told Sky News last night that the government was yet to make any final decision on such a move, but Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Mark Sofer, said he believed Australia was serious about shifting the diplomatic post.

“I can’t talk for the Australian government … but I don’t think ­decisions of this nature are made frivolously in a country as serious and as internationally important as Australia,” Mr Sofer told The ­Australian.

Mr Morrison phoned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday night to reveal the Coalition’s policy change.

“He (Mr Morrison) informed me that he is considering officially recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel by moving the Australian embassy to Jerusalem,” Mr Netanyahu tweeted.

“I’m very thankful to him for this. We will continue to strengthen ties between Israel and Australia.”

Israeli diplomats in Australia yesterday were enthusiastic over Mr Morrison’s comments. “We warmly welcome PM Morrison’s statement on Jerusalem, which provides evidence of Australia’s willingness to continue, as it always has, towards building peace and stability in the Middle East,” Israeli embassy spokeswoman Eman Hasisi Amasha said.

Australia Israel Jewish Affairs Council chairman Mark Leibler said the move was “courageous, measured and principled”.

“Israel is the only state in the world which the international community insists has no right to choose its own capital,” he said.

Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-chair Alex Ryvchin said: “We thank the Prime Minister on behalf of the community we represent for his moral clarity on these issues.”

Arab diplomats were furious at the comments, however. Palestinian envoy to Canberra, Izzat Salah Abdulhadi, told The Australian the Council of Arab Ambassadors was “alarmed” at not being informed of the move in advance. “They were not informed about anything, no consultation with them, just heard this in the morning,” he said.

Mr Abdulhadi said the group will release a statement today requesting a meeting with the Prime Minister and Senator Payne to explain Australia’s position on Jerusalem.

“The short-term political gain that could be secured by moving the Australian embassy from

Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would surely be outweighed by the detriment both to Australia’s

international standing and in its relations with Arab and Muslim-majority countries, and with

the international community,” Mr Abdulhadi said.

“Our fear is that such a decision at this particular point in time would only embolden the

Trump administration in its plan for an alternative road map to peace which has so far

involved taking key issues such as the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees ‘off the

table’”

The Council of Arab Ambassadors is a group of 15 Middle Eastern Ambassadors in Australia. Mr Abdulhadi said he received a call from a Department of Foreign Affairs official after the announcement on Tuesday morning. The Ambassador of Jordan to Australia, Ali-

M-Kraishan, Ambassador of Egypt to Australia, Mohamed Khairat received similar calls.

Mr Abdulhadi said the officials emphasised that it will not prejudice the final outcome of a two state solution and the government had not settled yet on moving the post.

“An official from DFAT had a discussion with three ambassadors, the Egyptian Ambassador … the Jordanian Ambassador and myself to explain the statement of Mr Morrison”

“They wanted to clarify it’s just about consideration and the prime minister said he needs to have further consultation.”

The government’s new middle east policy is also expected to be discussed by the Organisation of Islamic Corporation Heads of Mission Group in Canberra.