Jordan rejects Australian gov't decision not to recognize east Jerusalem as 'occupied'

Gov't spokesman states lands gained by Israel in Six Day War considered "occupied territory" by international law, opposes Australian policy shift.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Temple Mount (photo credit: REUTERS)
Temple Mount
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Jordanian government on Saturday said it “rejects Australia’s decision to no longer recognize east Jerusalem as occupied territory,” Jordanian government spokesman Barbat Amon said that all territory gained by Israel in the Six Day War is considered “occupied territory” under international law.
Those territories include east Jerusalem and the Old City, which were under Jordanian control from 1949 until 1967.
The announcement came after Australia’s Attorney- General George Brandis addressed the Australian Senate on Thursday and said the country’s foreign policy would be changed to no longer describe east Jerusalem as occupied territory.
The announcement signaled a significant policy shift welcomed in Israel.
“The description of east Jerusalem as ‘Occupied East Jerusalem’ is a term freighted with pejorative implications, which is neither appropriate nor useful,” Brandis said, reading a statement written following a conversation with Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
“It should not and will not be the practice of the Australian government to describe areas of negotiations in such judgmental language,” he said.