Australian commitment to Israel ‘has not wavered’ despite capital decision

Assistant Foreign Minister Tim Watts has sought to mend Labor’s relations with the Jewish community with a major speech declaring Australia’s commitment to Israel “has not wavered in the slightest”, after its decision to drop recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital resulted in a significant backlash.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade this month quietly dropped reference to West Jerusalem from its official Israel web page, prompting questions over whether Labor was officially changing its stance on the city, which Palestine also claims as its capital.
While initially reiterating that Labor’s position on the matter had not changed, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong confirmed the next day that Labor would reverse the Morrison government’s move in 2018 to recognise West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The move prompted backlash from within Labor’s ranks and internationally, with government officials confirming last week in senate estimates that Anthony Albanese and Israel’s Prime Minister had not spoken since the announcement.
Mr Watts used the Zionist Federation of Australia’s Biennial Conference, which was attended by more than 100 prominent Jewish leaders, to stress the Albanese government’s respect for Israel.
“Australia has always been a friend of Israel,” he said
“The Albanese Labor government will continue to strengthen that friendship. We are deeply committed to an enduring peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and a two-state solution in which Israel and a future Palestinian state coexist in peace and security within internationally recognised borders.”
Mr Watts said that like the Foreign Minister and Prime Minister, he regretted the policy shift was “distressing for Australian communities who care about this important issue”.
“Like Minister Wong, I think the timing of this news, falling during the High Holiday period, was deeply regrettable,” he said.
“Please know that Australia’s commitment to Israel has not wavered in the slightest.”
Mr Watts said Labor’s religious discrimination Bill was aimed at protecting Jewish communities and curbing anti-Semitism, which is “still with us today”.
“The fact that life is becoming more and more hostile for (Jewish students) on our university campuses is a cause of great distress for me,” he told the ZFA conference.
“I think that Australian universities absolutely have an obligation to ensure that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition is embraced and put into action on our campuses … I think (the definition) is an important prerequisite for facilitating exactly the kind of discussion and exchange of views that universities are supposed to promote.”

The IHRA defines antisemitism as: “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews”.
It goes on to include “rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property”, and toward “Jewish community institutions and religious facilities”.
Mr Watts also slammed the UN for the “unfair focus” on Israel, pointing to the permanent commission of inquiry into the Jewish state – the only ongoing commission by the UN – as discriminatory.
“We will call out the unfair and disproportionate targeting of Israel in international forums,” he said.
ZFA president Jeremy Leibler said the Australian Jewish community was still “extremely disappointed” by the government’s policy reversal but he appreciated Mr Watts taking the time to “genuinely listen” to concerns.
“It risked marring what has otherwise been a relationship characterised by open dialogue and respect and support for the Australian Jewish community,” he said. “We appreciate Mr Watts taking the time to listen … to our concerns, and to explain the government’s position directly to the Australian Jewish community.”
Sarah Ison
Political Reporter
Sarah Ison is a political reporter in The Australian’s Canberra press gallery bureau, where she covers a range of rounds from higher education to social affairs.