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The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday condemned Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s signal that he was considering the relocation of the Australian Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
“Considering this issue [moving the embassy] is against international law and UN resolutions," the ministry said in a statement.
“[This move] hinders the achievement of peace and encourages Israel not to sit down and negotiate with the Palestinians,” it warned.
Morrison said that he was “open to” relocating his country’s embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the city as the capital of Israel.
An Israeli policewoman was arrested on suspicion of shooting a Palestinian for entertainment in the occupied West Bank, Israeli daily Haaretz reported on Tuesday.The policewoman in her 20s shot the Palestinian man in May “for no apparent reason” while she was on duty near al-Zaim checkpoint in East Jerusalem, Haaretz said.The Palestinian was seriously injured in the incident.The incident came to the knowledge of the Justice Ministry while investigating another case in which a Palestinian was badly beaten by border police.Israeli aircraft shells ‘flaming kite’ flyers in GazaThe suspect apparently shot the Palestinian as a “dubious form of entertainment”, the judge at a hearing in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court said.The incident was filmed by a policeman in the unit, where another policeman can be heard shouting at the Palestinian in Arabic to go away.A few seconds later, the Palestinian was shot in the back with sponge-tipped bullet, Haaretz said.Investigators believe that the shooting occurred after police officers returned from operation, during which they arrested the Palestinian, thus he was under their responsibility.Australia's shift in Israel policy could hurt ties with Arab nations, Egypt envoy saysThere was no comment from Israeli police on the incident.Human rights groups say Israeli security personnel often escape punishment when it comes to attacks on Palestinians.
Israeli policewoman shot Palestinian for ‘fun’
“We’re committed to a two-state solution, but frankly, it hasn’t been going that well,” Morrison said. “Not a lot of progress has been made. And you don’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results.”
Morrison said the idea was suggested to him by former Australian ambassador to Israel Dave Sharma, who is a candidate for the ruling conservative Liberal Party in a by-election Saturday in a Sydney electorate with a large Jewish population.
In December, U.S. President Donald Trump triggered world outcry after unveiling plans to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and declare the city the capital of Israel.
Ambassadors from 13 Arab countries met in Canberra on Tuesday, concerned that Australia's move to consider recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital could damage peace prospects there, Egypt's ambassador said.Earlier on Tuesday, Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the unexpected announcement that he was "open minded" about recognising Jerusalem and possibly moving Australia's embassy there.That prompted the 13 ambassadors to call a meeting in the Australian capital, Mohamed Khairat, Egypt's ambassador to Australia told Reuters by telephone."We have agreed that we will send a letter to the foreign minister expressing our worries and our concern about such a statement," he said."Any decision like that might damage the peace process ... this will have very negative implications on the relations between Australia and not only Arab countries but many other (Islamic countries) as well." Palestine thanks Indonesia for support to causeIsrael arrests four activists in E. J'lem Bedouin hamletDozens hurt as Israeli army shuts West Bank school
Australia's shift in Israel policy could hurt ties with Arab nations, Egypt envoy says
Ever since, the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah has rejected any U.S. role in the stumbling Middle East peace process.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- occupied by Israel since 1967 -- might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.