On 15th December 2018, Australia recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
a. Canada
b. Japan
c. Australia
d. New Zealand
- With this, Australia has become one of the few countries that officially recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and as the seat of the Knesset (Israel's parliament).
- However, Australia has made it clear that it will not move its embassy from Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is reached between Israel and Palestine.
- Yet, Australia will establish a defence and trade office in Jerusalem and start looking for an embassy site.
One must know:
- West Jerusalem is that part of Jerusalem which remained under Israeli control after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
- A number of western countries such as the UK acknowledge de facto Israeli authority, but withhold de jure recognition.
- Israel's claim of sovereignty over West Jerusalem is more widely accepted than its claim over city of East Jerusalem.
Some important details:
- Both Israel and Palestine claim Jerusalem as their capital.
- Before this, United States President Donald Trump's administration had also announced recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital on December 6, 2017.
- The UN General Assembly passed a resolution in opposition to declare the US President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital "null and void".
- India also supported the resolution, which was approved with a majority of 127-9 at the UN General Assembly calling for the US to withdraw its decision.
- The Israeli - Palestinian tussle is the ongoing struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-20th century.
- The origins of this conflict can be traced back to Jewish immigration, and sectarian conflict in Mandatory Palestine between Jews and Arabs.
- This conflict has been referred to as the world's "most intractable conflict", with the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for last 51 years.
Question:
Q: Which country on 15th December 2018, recognized West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel?a. Canada
b. Japan
c. Australia
d. New Zealand