Diplomatic tensions have erupted over Australia’s decision to reverse the recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, while some of the Labor government’s own MPs are alarmed at how the policy shift was managed.
The decision – signed off at a cabinet meeting just hours after the government denied it had changed the policy – was criticised as “hasty” by the Israeli prime minister, Yair Lapid. His foreign ministry summoned the Australian ambassador to an urgent meeting to demand an explanation.
