Malaysia and Indonesia tried to strong-arm Australia into calling this off. So it is good of Morrison to stand up to this intimidation and not give in to it, as all establishment counterterror analysts would have recommended.
“After months of conjecture Scott Morrison makes announcement on embassy in Israel,” News.com.au, December 15, 2018:
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has formally announced his intention to move Australia’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem, ending months of speculation on the controversial issue.
In a speech this afternoon, Mr Morrison formally recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced the government would set up a Trade and Defence Office in the city.
While he has formalised Australia’s views on the Israeli capital, it remains a largely symbolic gesture, because the Australian embassy will not be moved until the final status of the city is decided under a peace agreement — something that is far from a reality.
“Fundamentally, it is the right of every country to determine its national capital,” Mr Morrison told The Sydney Institute this afternoon.
The Prime Minister has drawn criticism for redefining Australia’s position on Israel and Palestine, referring multiple times to the “guard rails” placed on the discussion.
“The government asked the question … the very act of daring to ask that question drew the usual criticism,” he said.
“For everyone just to keep doing what they were doing and looking the other way, don’t raise the issue, just keep doing what you’re doing.
“That’s not the way I deal with problems.”
Mr Morrison also acknowledged the Palestinians’ right to its own state.
“Further more, recognising our commitment to a two-state solution the government is also resolved to acknowledge — acknowledge the aspirations of Palestinians for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem,” he said,…