Jerusalem will be formally recognised as Israel capital by the Australian government after a cabinet meeting but it won't be announced until the COAG meeting on Wednesday.The Australian officials reported on Monday night that the decision will be ratified by the cabinet after the National Security Committee gives its approval.
As per the SBS News, the embassy however won't be moved from Tel Aviv just yet. Instead a consular office will be opened as to the expense involved in the move has been pegged at $200 million.Another reason is the mounting pressures and threats from Malaysia, Indonesia and other Muslim countries.
In October, former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Bali as part of an Australian delegation to attend a global conference.Subsequently, the Indonesian president warned of serious concerns about any move to Jerusalem.
"There is no question, were that move to occur, it would be met with a very negative reaction in Indonesia. This is after all the largest Muslim-majority country in the world," Mr Turnbull told the reporters.
Last year,the disputed city of Jerusalem was recognised as Israel capital by Mr Trump recognised and thus overturning decades of US policies in the Middle East.
"Israel is a sovereign nation with the right like every other sovereign nation to determine its own capital," the US leader said in a speech from the White House."Acknowledging this as a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace," added the US leader, declaring: "It is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."