Australia will consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving its embassy there from Tel Aviv, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.
If acted upon, the move would follow a recent policy shift by the US that has drawn criticism internationally.
Mr. Morrison said Australia remained committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Political opponents said Mr. Morrison’s comments were a “deceitful” ploy for votes ahead of a crucial by-election.
The status of Jerusalem is one of the most contested issues between Israel and the Palestinians.
US President Donald Trump drew international criticism last year when he reversed decades of American foreign policy by recognising the ancient city as Israel’s capital. The US embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May.
Mr. Morrison said he would consult with his cabinet and other nations before making any decisions.
“We are committed to a two-state solution, but frankly, it hasn’t been going that well – not a lot of progress has been made,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
He said it may be possible for his nation to support a two-state solution and recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – something that Australia had “to date assumed” was unfeasible.
The prime minister said one future scenario could involve Australia recognising a Palestinian Authority capital in East Jerusalem and Israeli capital in West Jerusalem.
“Australia should be open-minded to this,” Mr. Morrison said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted his approval on Monday.
Mr. Morrison’s predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, had ruled out following the US in moving Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem.
On Tuesday, Mr. Morrison said his thinking had been guided by Australia’s former ambassador to Israel, Dave Sharma.
Mr. Sharma is the government’s candidate in a by-election, to be held on Saturday, for the seat vacated by Mr. Turnbull after he was ousted as prime minister.
If Mr. Morrison fails to retain the Sydney electorate, Wentworth, he will be forced into minority government. He denied that his comments on Tuesday were aimed at Wentworth’s large Jewish community.
But the Labor opposition’s Senate leader, Penny Wong, said Mr. Morrison was playing “dangerous and deceitful word games with Australian foreign policy”.
“[Scott Morrison] is prepared to say anything if he thinks it will win him a few more votes – even at the cost of Australia’s national interest,” she said.
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Judge dismisses Stormy Daniels’ defamation case against Trump
A US judge has dismissed adult film star Stormy Daniels’ defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump.
Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, says she had a sexual relationship with Mr. Trump in 2006.
She filed the case after the president tweeted that she had invented a story about being threatened for speaking out about the alleged affair.
But the judge ruled that the tweet was protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.
Stormy Daniels was also ordered to pay Mr. Trump’s legal fees, although the amount is yet to be determined. Her lawyer said she would appeal against the decision.
In an interview with CBS News earlier this year, Stormy Daniels said a stranger approached her while she was with her young daughter and threatened her.
She later issued an image of the man.
Mr. Trump responded to her account on Twitter, saying: “A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!”
The ruling does not affect a separate lawsuit the actress has filed against the president over money she says she was paid by Mr. Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, to keep quiet about the alleged affair.
In August, Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws during the 2016 presidential election over payments to two women who said they had sexual relationships with Mr. Trump. He said he made the payments at Mr. Trump’s request.
