(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) Australia is reportedly set to formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Australian public television station SBS reported on Tuesday, Trend reports referring to The Jerusalem Post .
The station cited local paper The Australian, saying that the decision is to be ratified by the cabinet at a meeting on Tuesday after its approval by the country's national security committee on Monday.
The move would be officially announced on Wednesday, according to the report.
"However, the embassy won't be moved from Tel Aviv just yet," the report said. "Instead a consular office will be opened, the sources said, due to the cost of the move, pegged at $200 million."
In October, new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was "open" to moving his country's embassy to Jerusalem. After his election in August, he was invited by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Jerusalem.
The move would follow the US recognition of Jerusalem last December and subsequent embassy move in May. Guatemala followed suit and opened an embassy in Jerusalem last May. Paraguay also moved its embassy last May before returning it to Tel Aviv in September.
Follow Trend on Telegram. Only most interesting and important news
MENAFN1112201801870000ID1097814417
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.