Australian Ambassador Clarifies Issue on Embassy Relocation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Foreign Affairs Ministry called Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary Quinlan AO, Tuesday, October 16, 2018, in light of statement delivered by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the country was mulling to move the embassy office in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a disputed area in Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We are looking at the situation and looking at different options. He (Morrison) is very clear on what he says that Australia commits to a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine are living side by side, and that position has not changed,” said Ambassador Quinlan after meeting Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Tuesday, Oct 16.

According to Quinlan, in a press conference in Canberra Tuesday, Morrison did not set a deadline to evaluate the options related to Jerusalem. However, Prime Minister Morrison committed to the two-state solution.

Earlier, The Australian on Tuesday, Oct 16, reported Australia attempted to relocate its embassy office in Israel to Jerusalem, joining its ally the United States.

"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, and you don't keep doing the same thing and expect different results," Morrison told reporters on Tuesday.

Australia has decided to review its foreign policy in the Middle East. Morrison affirmed that the government was open-minded about the issue regarding Israel and Palestine.

SUCI SEKARWATI