Indonesia Warns Australia Against Embassy Move to al-Quds
JAKARTA (Dispatches) – Indonesia has warned Australia against moving its diplomatic mission to al-Quds after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested a possible embassy transfer earlier this week.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir underlined the sensitivity of Australia’s decision, saying "the issue of Palestine is very important to Indonesia and the people of Indonesia."
"Of course we will adjust our policy or our actions depending on the situation but again, I will not even try to predict what actions we will take,” he said in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Indonesian Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Totok Sugiharto also warned of a possible revision in military cooperation to see whether its continuation "is beneficial for both parties.”
Australia had previously ruled out any prospect of an embassy transfer in June, but Morrison’s recent bid to recognize al-Quds as the Zionist regime’s "capital" may mark a change in Australia’s foreign policy that is similar to that of Trump’s, according to observers.
The prime minister has also called for a review of the Iran nuclear deal.
Some domestic critics have responded to the decision by describing it as a mere scheme to gain votes in an upcoming by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wentworth, which is home to a sizable Jewish population.
Former Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath condemned the move as an obstacle to achieving peace in the region, saying Palestinian officials have been lobbying Arab countries to review their trade and political ties with Canberra.
"If this is the way you do politics in the Middle East in order to win a by-election in Australia, then please allow me to be very negative towards the policy of that Australian government, …we’ll do our best that it will cause damage to Australia’s relations with the Arab world,” added Shaath.
Representatives from 13 Middle Eastern and North African embassies held an emergency meeting on the issue on Tuesday, warning Australian authorities to not make a "fatal mistake”.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir underlined the sensitivity of Australia’s decision, saying "the issue of Palestine is very important to Indonesia and the people of Indonesia."
"Of course we will adjust our policy or our actions depending on the situation but again, I will not even try to predict what actions we will take,” he said in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Indonesian Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Totok Sugiharto also warned of a possible revision in military cooperation to see whether its continuation "is beneficial for both parties.”
Australia had previously ruled out any prospect of an embassy transfer in June, but Morrison’s recent bid to recognize al-Quds as the Zionist regime’s "capital" may mark a change in Australia’s foreign policy that is similar to that of Trump’s, according to observers.
The prime minister has also called for a review of the Iran nuclear deal.
Some domestic critics have responded to the decision by describing it as a mere scheme to gain votes in an upcoming by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wentworth, which is home to a sizable Jewish population.
Former Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath condemned the move as an obstacle to achieving peace in the region, saying Palestinian officials have been lobbying Arab countries to review their trade and political ties with Canberra.
"If this is the way you do politics in the Middle East in order to win a by-election in Australia, then please allow me to be very negative towards the policy of that Australian government, …we’ll do our best that it will cause damage to Australia’s relations with the Arab world,” added Shaath.
Representatives from 13 Middle Eastern and North African embassies held an emergency meeting on the issue on Tuesday, warning Australian authorities to not make a "fatal mistake”.