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Latest update: 29/12/2009
- Israel - Israeli settlements - Jerusalem - USA
US opposes new settlements in east Jerusalem
The United States is opposed to the construction of new Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has said, calling for fresh negotiations on the future of the disputed territory.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - The United States is opposed to building new Jewish settlements in annexed Arab east Jerusalem, the White House said Monday, calling for fresh talks on the future of the disputed territory.
"The United States opposes new Israeli construction in East Jerusalem," spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
"The status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved by the parties through negotiations and supported by the international community," he said, adding that the two sides should return to the negotiating table "as soon as possible."
"The United States recognizes that Jerusalem is a deeply important issue for Israelis and Palestinians, and for Jews, Muslims, and Christians," Gibbs said.
He added: "We believe that through good faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome that realizes the aspirations of both parties for Jerusalem, and safeguards its status for people around the world."
Gibbs issued his statement amid news reports in Israel which said the government had invited tenders for the building of hundreds of more homes in Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem.
East Jerusalem settlements already house some 200,000 Jewish settlers alongside its 270,000 Palestinian residents.
Israel's continued expansion of settlements is one of the biggest obstacles to the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians, now suspended for a year.
Israel, which captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it in a move which has not been recognized by the international community.
Israel insists that the entire city is its "eternal, indivisible" capital, but Palestinians are determined to make the city's eastern sector the capital of their promised state, a goal endorsed earlier this month by the European Union.
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Comments (1)
US ''opposes''
Whenever I read a headline like this I ask myself why - If US opposes illegal Jewish settlements - are these Settlements going ahead?
Where are the sanctions faced by Cuba or Vietnam or other countries which America dislikes? What is it about Israel that they break international law and the only country which could bring real pressure to bear doesn't do so? In fact the US actively supports Israel in deed even if weasel words are used now and then to fool their stupid public into believing this is not the case?
Americans are masters of platitude and euphemism and supporting terrorism around the world. It sounds extreme to say such a thing but that is only because the propaganda to the contrary has been so successful. America is a sponsor of international terrorism and Israel is a terrorist state. These are facts under any rational interpretation of international law.
Jerusalem is a historic Jewish city
Jerusalem is important to the world, specifically to Christians and Muslims, because of its role in Jewish history. Jews have been the majority in the Holy City since at least 1853, according to Cesar Famin, a French historian and diplomat, whose population stats were reproduced by Karl Marx in his article of 15 April 1854 in the New York Tribune.
Moreover, the international community acknowledged Jewish rights to the Land of Israel as the Jewish National Home, including Jerusalem, at the San Remo Conference [1920] and the League of Nations [1922]. Hence, when Israel builds homes in the part of Jerusalem immorally kept off limits to Jews by Jordan between 1948 and 1967, Israel is acting in accord with international law as well as its historical rights, including the Jewish majority since 1853, at least.
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