How Palestinians are working to stop Australia embassy move
Palestinians are deploying efforts to prevent Australia from following in the steps of US President Donald Trump in recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
The Palestinian ambassador to Australia, Izzat Abdulhadi, knew that he had his hands full when Liberal Party candidate Dave Sharma, a former ambassador to Israel, won the by-elections for the Wentworth seat in east Australia Sept. 13.
Wentworth is home to Australia's wealthiest electorate and one ot its largest Jewish communities. The vote also affects the thin majority held by the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
The Australian government, led by Morrison from the Liberal Party, was depending on a single-vote majority to stay in power. General elections are due to take place next May. “We are aware that the Labor Party has a good chance of winning the elections next summer,” Abdulhadi told Al-Monitor. “We are sure that the Labor Party will carry out its promise to recognize the state of Palestine.” Polls show the Labor Party way ahead of the Morrison coalition.
In the meantime, Australia's local politics appear to have affected international politics.
