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| Two capitals in Jerusalem EU says | Two capitals in Jerusalem EU says |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| European Union ministers have called for Jerusalem to serve as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state as part of a negotiated peace. | European Union ministers have called for Jerusalem to serve as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state as part of a negotiated peace. |
| The foreign ministers dropped an earlier reference stating explicitly that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state. | The foreign ministers dropped an earlier reference stating explicitly that East Jerusalem should be the capital of a Palestinian state. |
| Palestinians welcomed the statement, while Israel said it was "nothing new". | Palestinians welcomed the statement, while Israel said it was "nothing new". |
| Jerusalem's status is one of the most sensitive and complex issues of the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | Jerusalem's status is one of the most sensitive and complex issues of the entire Israeli-Palestinian conflict. |
| "If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states," the statement from EU foreign minsters said. | "If there is to be a genuine peace, a way must be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states," the statement from EU foreign minsters said. |
| "The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties." | "The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties." |
| Israel, which captured the West Bank in 1967, currently claims sovereignty over the entire city, and claims it as its capital. | Israel, which captured the West Bank in 1967, currently claims sovereignty over the entire city, and claims it as its capital. |
| Its government welcomed what it called the "balancing and improving" of the EU text, but said it ignored "the primary obstacle to achieving a resolution between Israel and the Palestinians: the Palestinian refusal to return to the negotiating table". | |
| "Israel regrets that the EU has chosen to adopt a text that, although containing nothing new, does not contribute to the renewal of negotiations," it said. | "Israel regrets that the EU has chosen to adopt a text that, although containing nothing new, does not contribute to the renewal of negotiations," it said. |
| Rafik Alhussieni, chief of staff to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "The statement as a whole is satisfactory because it says that Jerusalem should be the capital of both states and because it refers to the land as occupied land... and mentions that the settlements are illegal and built on occupied land." | Rafik Alhussieni, chief of staff to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "The statement as a whole is satisfactory because it says that Jerusalem should be the capital of both states and because it refers to the land as occupied land... and mentions that the settlements are illegal and built on occupied land." |
| On Monday, scores of Palestinians had protested at the French and Swedish consulates in Jerusalem in support of the Swedish EU presidency's proposal for an explicit reference on the east of the city, AFP news agency reported. | On Monday, scores of Palestinians had protested at the French and Swedish consulates in Jerusalem in support of the Swedish EU presidency's proposal for an explicit reference on the east of the city, AFP news agency reported. |
| Israeli claims of sovereignty over Jerusalem are recognised internationally, and East Jerusalem is considered to be occupied territory. | Israeli claims of sovereignty over Jerusalem are recognised internationally, and East Jerusalem is considered to be occupied territory. |
| Palestinians hope to establish the capital of their future state in East Jerusalem. | Palestinians hope to establish the capital of their future state in East Jerusalem. |