Australia reverses previous government's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital
Australia has reversed a previous government's recognition of west Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the foreign minister said Tuesday, prompting consternation from Israel. The center-left Labor Party government agreed to again recognize Tel Aviv as the capital. The Cabinet also reaffirmed that Jerusalem's status must be resolved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. Australia remained committed to a two-party solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and "we will not support an approach that undermines this prospect," Wong said. Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed disappointment in Australia's changed position. "Jerusalem is the eternal undivided capital of Israel and nothing will change that," Lapid said in a statement. Wong said her department made an error by updating its website on Australia's revised policy on Israel's capital before Cabinet had confirmed the change. This led to conflicting media repor