The Morrison cabinet is wrestling with whether to make the historic shift in its foreign policy,having discussed the matter this week and with the clock ticking on making a promised announcement before Christmas.
It follows Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s declaration in the heat of the Wentworth byelection campaign that the government would consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moving Australia’s embassy there.
That would follow in the footsteps of United States President Donald Trump and make Australia only the second major country to shift its position on the contentious issue that goes to the heart of the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict.
While the advice the government has received has not been unanimous,it appears the clear weight of opinion has stated that the status quo on Jerusalem should be maintained.
The government departments and agencies consulted are understood to be aligned in support of Australia’s current position in having its embassy in Tel Aviv. Those include the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,the Defence Department,ASIO and the Office of National Assessments.
That was also the majority view of a small and handpicked group of former top officials or"wise elders"whom the government has consulted. These included former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet head Michael Thawley,former Defence Department head Dennis Richardson,former Chief of the Defence Force Sir Angus Houston and former Department of Foreign Affairs head Michael L’Estrange.
Compromise positions such as declaring Australia recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s capital while delaying the move of the embassy,as well as opening a smaller consulate in Jerusalem in the meantime,were also not supported by advice.