Scott Morrison to give Indonesia Israeli embassy decision by Christmas

Australia will tell Indonesia by Christmas whether it plans to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem, Scott Morrison says.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo at a bilateral meeting during the 2018 ASEAN Summit in Singapore, Wednesday, November 14, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

Australia will tell Indonesia by Christmas whether it plans to move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said yesterday after meeting President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Singapore.

Mr Morrison described the meeting as “friendly and respectful” after what appeared to be a cool reception from the Indonesian president in the two leaders’ first meeting since the possible relocation of Australia’s Israeli embassy was first raised ahead of the Wentworth byelection last month.

Mr Morrison also said Jokowi, as he is known, did not link the pending free trade agreement with the Israel embassy issue, notwithstanding comments by Indonesian trade minister Enggartiasto Lukita this week that the signing of the deal had been delayed “because of Palestine”.

“These were not raised in connection. We discussed both of those issues,” Mr Morrison said.

“On the issue of the trade agreement, there was an absolute understanding of the great opportunities that this presents for both countries.

“In relation to Israel I was able to talk through the government’s process on how we are seeking to resolve that and to come to a position…I think that I was able to give some greater clarity on the role that we’re playing there and the timeframe for that.”

Mr Morrison said the review was being conducted internally and would go through the National Security Committee and cabinet.

When pushed on a timeframe he said he expected a decision to be made before Christmas

The scheduled 20 minute bilateral meeting _ one of six Mr Morrison will have with foreign leaders today _ went into double time this morning with the two leaders reportedly patting each other on the back as they emerged from the room and walked together to the Australian-hosted ASEAN breakfast meeting.

But Jakarta, one of the Palestinian state’s strongest supporters, has made it very clear that a decision to move Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem, following the US move to do so earlier this year, would effect the bilateral relationship.

The Indonesia Australia Comprehensive economic Partnership Agreement (IA_CEPA) was to have been signed this month.

Instead Mr Morrison has been forced to talk down the timeline for a trade deal which has been eight years in the negotiations and which stands to bring huge benefits to Australian agricultural exporters, as well as education and health companies seeking an entrée into one of Asia’s biggest emerging markets.

The two leaders met early this morning with Mr Morrison greeting the Indonesian president with a big smile.

But there was less conviviality afforded Mr Morrison than the effusive welcome he received from Mr Joko when he first met the Indonesian leader in Bogor last August, reflecting deep concerns in Jakarta over Australia’s possible foreign policy shift.

Mr Joko was first to arrive in the meeting room flanked by his most senior cabinet colleagues, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Security, Law and Political Affairs Minister Wiranto as well as Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita.

Mr Morrison was accompanied by trade minister Simon Birmingham, Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia Gary Quinlan and his Foreign Affairs advisor Michelle Chan.

Following the meeting Mr Morrison hosted a breakfast with the 10 ASEAN leaders.

He also meets today with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong.