Indonesia could cancel $11billion trade deal with Australia after Scott Morrison considers moving Israeli embassy to Jerusalem
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged moving Israeli embassy to Jerusalem
- He voiced idea during Wentworth by-election campaign to win Jewish voters
- Indonesia is reportedly upset with the idea as it pushes pro-Palestinian agenda
Indonesia could cancel an $11billion trade deal with Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged moving the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem in the heat of the Wentworth by-election campaign.
Mr Morrison's proposal to copy U.S. President Donald Trump's relocation of the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city has reportedly angered Australia's Muslim neighbour.
Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, has taken a strong stance in favour of Palestinian statehood and is considering suspending an imminent free trade deal reached with Australia only seven weeks ago, in light of the Jerusalem proposal, the ABC reported.

Indonesia (President Joko Widodo pictured) could cancel an $11billion trade deal with Australia after Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged moving the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem

Mr Morrison's proposal to copy U.S. President Donald Trump's relocation of the American embassy to Jerusalem (pictured) has reportedly angered Australia's Muslim neighbour
Australia exported $7billion worth of goods to Indonesia in 2017, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade data showed, and the cancellation of a free trade deal could jeopardise an $11.2billion trade relationship.
Mr Morrison made the proposal to relocate Australia's Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem as he campaigned ahead of this Saturday's Wentworth by-election, in a Sydney eastern suburbs seat where 12.5 per cent of its residents are Jewish.
The Prime Minister told Parliament he had contacted Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who himself faces a tough re-election fight in April 2019.
'I have been in direct contact with President Joko Widodo over the course of last night and through this morning,' Mr Morrison told the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Australia exported $7billion worth of goods to Indonesia in 2017 and the cancellation of a free trade deal could jeopardise an $11.2billion trade relationship (live sheep to Indonesia pictured)

PM Scott Morrison (pictured) flagged moving Australia's Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv as he campaigned ahead of this Saturday's Wentworth by-election in a heavily Jewish seat
'I have been pleased to be able to explain very clearly the nature of the announcements that I have made today.
'And I have been very pleased with the response that I have received from President Joko Widodo.'
Mr Widodo, a moderate Muslim, is already under political pressure from fundamentalist Islamic voters, after his former running mate as Jakarta governor, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, was targeted for being a Christian.

Mr Widodo (left with Scott Morrison) is already under political pressure after his former running mate as Jakarta governor, Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama, was targeted as a Christian
In August, the Indonesian President picked hardline Muslim cleric Ma'ruf Amin as his running mate for next year's presidential elections.
During that same month, Australia and Indonesia signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, that will allow 99 per cent of Australia's exports to be sold in Indonesia duty free.
The free trade deal with Indonesia was set to unlock education opportunities in the Asian country, which has a workforce of more than 130 million people but half of them only have a primary school education.
Most watched News videos
- Labor MP's stinging rebuttal to discriminating against gay teachers
- Wife of killer driver claims to have proof her husband is innocent
- Lloyd Rayney becomes emotional as he speaks about his daughters
- Huge crane delivering a backyard spa crushes a Melbourne home
- Aldi slams Coles and Woolworths' loyalty programs in shocking ad
- Baby caught rolling down hill during rugby game
- CCTV footage shows tragic accident that killed pregnant NSW woman
- Man who boasted about 'violent attack on homeless man' apologises
- Georgie Gardner says 'nice try Karl' after he makes a joke
- Terrifying moment night at casino descends into violent brawl
- Woman gets dragged along the ground during attempted bag snatch
- Shocking moment group of thugs brawl with Adelaide train passenger
-
'I don't care': Heroin driver's callous response after...
-
Middle-aged woman uses a metal rod to casually rifle...
-
'A gay teacher doesn't teach gay maths': Labor MP's...
-
Man, 35, ‘pretending to be a 17-year-old boy grooms a...
-
'Code 222 grey': The three words that sent chills down...
-
Unlicensed driver accused of veering onto the wrong side...
-
Schoolgirl forced to have her finger amputated after she...
-
Road rage attacker sideswipes cars in his truck before...
-
Seven young offenders are added to prison terror watch...
-
'They attached electrodes to my genitals': Shocking...
-
'Country players are built tough from the get-go':...
-
Scott Morrison is considering moving Australia’s embassy...
-
Girl, 7, dies in horror head-on crash that injured six...
-
Child rapist claimed he was a cook for the Triads before...
-
'What are you doing?!': Hilarious moment mother walks...
-
Man who punched a 90-year-old woman in the face as she...
-
'I think there are things Dad hasn't told me': Daughter...
-
Man on bail for biting his ex-girlfriend's finger while...