Dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have held a rally outside the Australian embassy in the Malaysian capital to protest Canberra's decision to recognise West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The protest march, organised by Asean Coalition for Palestine (ACP), a group that organises campaign and advocacy initiatives for the Palestinian cause, urged the Australian government to revoke the decision announced last Saturday.
The demonstrators were displaying banners, some of which read that Jerusalem is "eternal capital of Palestine" and called for a boycott of Australia, according to an efe-epa journalist.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators wave flags of Palestine and display protest banners outside the Australian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Source: AAP
The protesters urged Australia not to be a "stooge" of the United States and Israel and used their banners and placards to question if Prime Minister Scott Morrison was a "puppet" of US President Donald Trump.
Australia on Saturday officially recognised West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital but its embassy will continue to remain in Tel Aviv until a peace settlement is achieved.
Canberra said it would instead establish a Trade and Defence Office in West Jerusalem.
"Australia now recognises West Jerusalem, being the seat of the Knesset and many of the institutions of government, is the capital of Israel. West Jerusalem is the capital of Israel," Morrison said during an address at the Sydney Institute on Saturday.
Morrison also recognised the aspirations of the Palestinian people for a future state with its capital in East Jerusalem.
Earlier this year, Trump's administration shifted its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Guatemala and Paraguay had followed suit, although the latter reversed the decision soon after, following a change in government.
The status of Jerusalem lies at the heart of the long running Palestine-Israel conflict.
