Australia formally recognizes west Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, reversing decades of Middle East policy, but will not move its embassy there immediately, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Saturday. Israel described the move as a step in the right direction. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said the announcement was born of Australian “petty domestic politics.” “Australia now recognizes west Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel,” Morrison said.
