The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Australian ambassador to Tehran following Canberra�s decision to stop referring to Israeli-annexed East al-Quds as �occupied.�On Monday, Director General of the Iranian Foreign Ministry�s Office for Middle East and North Africa Reza Ameri asked Paul Foley to relay Tehran�s objection to over the Australian attorney general�s recent stance on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.
The Iranian official also called on the Australian government to review the decision to drop the term �occupied� when referring to illegal Israeli settlements in East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
�Documents and international conventions on Palestine� emphasize the [Israeli] occupation of al-Quds,� added Ameri.
Earlier this month, Australian Attorney General George Brandis said Canberra would no longer refer to East Jerusalem (al-Quds) as �occupied,� 47 years after Israel seized al-Quds during the Six-Day War in 1967 and later annexed it. The move has never been recognized by the international community.
Brandis said using the word �occupied� was not �useful� and it would not contribute to the talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
During the Monday meeting, Foley provided explanations about the Australian attorney general�s statements.
The Australian envoy also said he would convey Tehran�s views to the authorities in his country.
On June 8, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry called in Australia�s diplomatic representative Thomas Wilson over the remarks by the attorney general.
On June 19, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met with Arab and Islamic ambassadors to soothe concerns over Canberra�s stance on East al-Quds, reaffirming there was no policy change despite the move to stop describing it as �occupied.�
By Press TV
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