Europe urges Israel to share Jerusalem

THE European Union has urged Israel to share Jerusalem with the Palestinians as part of a Middle East peace agreement and make the holy city the capital of two states.

Reaffirming a position which the Israeli government rejects, EU foreign ministers said genuine peace needs the resolution of the status of Jerusalem through negotiation.

Rejecting Israel’s annexation of the eastern half of the city, they said the EU would “not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties”.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan in the Six-Day War of 1967 and later annexed east Jerusalem and nearby suburbs, in a step never recognised internationally.

In the West Bank, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad said: “It’s a good day for international law, for international legitimacy, for justice and for our own people to begin to have a sense of hope about the future.”

Ireland made a strong plea for the rights of the Palestinians to be respected yesterday. Speaking after the council meeting, Minister Dick Roche said: “The conclusions today send out strong messages regarding the urgent need for progress in the peace process. They are very well balanced.

“We are sending a strong and clear signal to President Abbas and the Palestinian population that they can reasonably expect that their legitimate national aspirations can be satisfied.

“Our statement today makes clear that the status of Jerusalem is a core issue for eventual negotiation. But it is equally clear that any status to be determined will involve sharing the city.”