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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Australian Trade At Risk Over East Jerusalem Decision |
| 2014-06-14 |
| [Ynet] Paleostinian delegation to Canberra warns decision to stop referring to East Jerusalem as 'occupied' would lead to Arab trade sanctions, which would leave Australia isolated. Australia could face trade sanctions by Arab nations over its decision to stop using the term "occupied" when referring to East Jerusalem, the head of the Paleostinian delegation to Canberra warned Friday. Izzat Abdulhadi said Australia's new stance on East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in a move never recognized by the international community, was a "substantial policy shift." "We think that it's very provocative and un-useful, and it's not appropriate," Abdulhadi told AFP. His comments came after 18 diplomats from countries including Indonesia, Egypt and Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... protested to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra on Thursday. Australia said last week it would no longer refer to East Jerusalem as "occupied" because the term carries pejorative implications and was neither appropriate or useful. "It is important, as far as you can, not to use loaded terms, not to use pejorative terms, not to use terms which suggest that matters have been prejudged and that is a freighted term," Prime Minister Tony Abbott said. "The truth is they're disputed territories." The comments sparked fury in the Arab world, with the Jordanian and Paleostinian governments summoning Australia's diplomatic representative in protest. Israel hailed the move as "refreshing." "We asked the government to reverse this position," Abdulhadi said of the diplomatic protest. He added that trade sanctions could be put in place against Canberra if the government persisted with its stance, which he said left Australia isolated. "It depends on the reaction of the Australian government," he said, adding that the issue could also be taken to the United Nations ...a formerly good idea gone bad... General Assembly. "Unfortunately I think there will be negative consequences for the (Australian) government." Australia's export trade with the Middle East is significant, accounting for billions of dollars annually, particularly in wheat and meat, with Qatar and Jordan major markets for live sheep. "We want to maintain the trade and we will work very hard with them to ensure that that happens," Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss told news hounds on Friday. Israel seized East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move never recognized by the international community. The Paleostinians claim Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of their promised state. The international community views all Israeli construction on land seized in 1967, including the West Bank, as illegal and a major obstacle to a negotiated peace agreement. Abdulhadi said he would meet Foreign Minister Julie Bishop next week and was hopeful that Australia could explain the decision. "Maybe we can avoid all this sort of thing if we can have good discussions," he said. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 ...Qatar and Jordan major markets for live sheep. That brings an unfortunate picture to mind... |
| Posted by: BigEdLB 2014-06-14 19:24 |
| #1 Oh yeah. "Arab trade sanctions!" Oh NOES! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2014-06-14 10:16 |