Malaysia slams Australia’s ‘humiliating’ Jerusalem move

By Omer Faruk Yildiz </p> <p>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AA) – Malaysia on Sunday slammed Australia's decision to recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, terming it as a &quot;humiliation&quot; to the Palestinians.</p> <p>In a statement, Malaysian Foreign Ministry said that the announcement was “premature and a humiliation to the Palestinians and their struggle for the right to self-determination.”</p> <p>The statement said Malaysia “strongly opposes” the decision by the government of Australia and supports the two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict.</p> <p>On Saturday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced to formally recognize West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. </p> <p>Morrison said his country would not move its embassy until peace is established between Israel and Palestine.</p> <p>Tension has been running high in the occupied Palestinian territories since last year when U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.</p> <p>Jerusalem remains at the heart of the decades-long Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem — occupied by Israel since 1967 — might one day serve as the capital of a Palestinian state.