By Ryan Jones, Israel Today—
Australia’s decision on Saturday to officially recognize the western half of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel prompted a number of outbursts, some of them very, very revealing.
The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed disappointment that, unlike US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison only acknowledged Israeli sovereignty over half of the Holy City, and did not commit to moving his nation’s embassy there.
The Palestinian Authority also protested Australia’s announcement, and that raised not a few eyebrows in Israel.
Many assumed that the Palestinians would celebrate Australia recognizing only West Jerusalem as Israel’s seat of government as yet another repudiation of the Jews’ claim to the entire city as their eternal capital.
But then Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat (pictured, archive) explained the outrage, and Israelis were again reminded of just how distant a genuine peace based on historical accuracy remains.
“All of Jerusalem remains a final status issue for negotiations, while East Jerusalem, under international law, is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian territory,” insisted Erekat. Continue Reading….
