Australia to stand with Israel in UN vote

Australia is expected to join a US-led resolution at the United Nations condemning the militant Palestinian organisation Hamas for firing rockets into Israel.

The move signals a further shift towards Israel under Prime Minister Scott Morrison, after Australia last week voted for the first time against a UN resolution explicitly denying Israel's claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem.

With the Morrison government to decide within weeks whether to move Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Jewish groups have welcomed the anticipated pro-Israel vote, The Australian reported on Thursday.