Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki threatened Australia with dire consequences that will affect its trade and business with the Arab and Muslim world, if Prime Minister Morrison would eventually decide to move his country’s embassy to Jerusalem. According to Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki, “Australia, by doing so, they are risking Australia’s trade and business relationship with the rest of the world and in particular Arab and Muslim world. And I hope that Australia would reconsider that position before it takes such an action for election purposes.” The Palestinian top diplomat said those remarks during a joint press conference in Jakarta with his Indonesian counterpart, who also warned Australia of ‘thinking twice’ before standing by Israel at the expense of the Palestinian aspirations for statehood. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated that “[Australia should] respect the peace process of Palestine and Israel according to the two-state solution, and not take any actions that could threaten the world’s peace and security.” It is important to note that while the Palestinian Foreign Minister claimed to have the support of the Arab and Muslim world with regard to possible consequences against Australia, none of those countries have actually expressed any similar sentiments that could threaten their business ties with Canberra for the sake of the Palestinian narrative.
