What is a capital, anyway?
NSW Liberal Senator Scott Farlow had to answer this question asked by one of his daughters.
Scott Farlow
He told the story to the NSW parliament.
“My nine-year-old son loves geography. One of his favourite games to play is “What’s the capital?” I pick a country; he names the capital. The game frustrates my six‑year‑old daughter, whose geography is a little more limited. Her answer to every country is either London or Washington. She has become so frustrated that we have bought her a talking globe so that she can hone her skills. After a frustrated walk the other day, where London or Washington were not the capital of any country that I named, she asked, “Dad, what is a capital anyway?” My answer was, “It is a city where a country’s Parliament or Government is.” It seemed like a pretty straightforward explanation to me, but when it comes to Israel, the Albanese Government has determined that the simple explanation is not good enough.
The Albanese Government’s ham-fisted decision to change Australia’s recognition of Israel has harmed its relationship with one of its strongest allies. Israel is an ally that works hand in glove with Australia’s police and military, and it has provided information that has thwarted terrorist attacks on our own soil. This was not a decision that was undertaken after long consultation with either the State of Israel or our local Jewish community; it was a decision that was made as a kneejerk reaction to a bureaucratic website change. As Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, said:
In light of the way in which this decision was made, as a hasty response to an incorrect report in the media, we can only hope that the Australian government manages other matters more seriously and professionally. Jerusalem is the eternal and united capital of Israel and nothing will ever change that.
It is clear that Israel was not notified of the change in advance. After the first media reports of a change came to light, I understand that Israeli representatives were assured by the Albanese Government that there was no change to Australia’s position, only to learn through media reports that Australia had unilaterally decided to change its recognition of a foreign capital. All of this has occurred in the shadow of an election in Israel that is only two weeks away. The Albanese Government has capitalised on a time of political change in Israel to enact a stunt at the expense of both the Australian and Israeli people. Imagine what would happen if this were to happen to Australia and one of our allies no longer recognised Canberra as our capital.
The three arms of government—the Legislature, the Executive and the judiciary—are all located 70 kilometres east of Tel Aviv in Jerusalem. The Knesset is Israel’s Parliament, and it has met continuously in Jerusalem since 1949. The President is Israel’s head of State, and his residence is Beit HaNassi, which is also located in Jerusalem. The Supreme Court of Israel is located in Givat Ram, which, again, is in Jerusalem. All roads to Israel’s capital in Jerusalem, which has been under the undisputed territorial control of Israel since 1950. To say that any other city is the capital of Israel is complete and utter legal fiction. It is a legal fiction that goes as far as to undermine the integrity of a western democracy that has maintained significant economic, military and diplomatic ties with Australia for over half a century.
As of 2020, Australian investments in Israel totalled $1.2 billion, with Israeli investment in Australia equalling $342 million. Israel will continue to remain a major regional power with strong ties with the west, and it has gone from strength to strength since both the United States and Australia recognised Jerusalem as its capital. The Federal Government’s failures in diplomatic policy will risk the wellbeing of the Australian economy by compromising decades of stable bilateral relations. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, argues that Australia “will always be a steadfast friend of Israel”. This is not the way that friends treat other friends. This decision has not been followed nor supported by our closest ally, the United States, under Democratic President Joe Biden, but it is a decision that has been welcomed and celebrated by both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
After the Labor conference on the weekend, which saw the Australia and the World Policy Committee report that contains 33 of 66 motions focused on Israel—24 of which are critical of Israel—I fear that this is only the tip of the iceberg of the change in position of the Federal Government towards Israel. Why should Israel be the only country in the world that is unable to determine and assert its own capital within the borders of its control? Jerusalem will continue to be a symbolic melting pot of religions and a historical holy site for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. Jerusalem should not, however, be deprived by Australia of its national significance as Israel’s eternal capital by Australia, which is a nation with a long-lasting history, understanding and closeness with the people of Israel. Australia has often been seen as Israel’s strongest friend on the global stage, and I hope that will continue into the future, no matter who is the Prime Minister of Australia. The truth is that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel—period.”
