Australia to Refer to West Bank, East Jerusalem as 'Occupied Territory,' Israeli Settlements as 'Ill

[Eugene]

Source: Haaretz

Australia to Refer to West Bank, East Jerusalem as 'Occupied Territory,' Israeli Settlements as 'Illegal'

Foreign Minister Penny Wong explained that the Labor Party-led government's decision amounts to an official return of Australia's policy up until 2014 – when the then-right-wing government began referring to the West Bank and East Jerusalem as 'disputed territory'

Amir Tibon
Aug 8, 2023 4:54 pm IDT

The Australian government will reinstate the term “Occupied Palestinian Territories" when referring to the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and to define Israeli settlements in these areas as "illegal," the country's foreign minister announced on Tuesday.

Speaking before parliament, Foreign Minister Penny Wong explained that the Labor Party-led government's decision amounts to an official return of Australia's policy up until 2014 – when the then-right-wing government began referring to the West Bank and East Jerusalem as "disputed territory."

Australian media believes the policy change was made due to political pressure put on Wong from within the Labor Party.

The decision was criticized by the opposition in Australia and pro-Israel organizations in the country, who accused the government of a "one-sided" approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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Read more: https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-08-08/ty-article/.premium/australia-to-refer-to-west-bank-east-jlem-as-occupied-israeli-settlements-as-illegal/00000189-d529-dbfc-a3bd-d5ff85940000