EU diplomats say East Jerusalem should be treated as Palestinian capital

01.10.2011 | Haaretz

East Jerusalem should be treated as the capital of the Palestinian state, according to a report compiled by the heads of European diplomatic missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah. The report includes several other unprecedented recommendations to the European Union regarding its attitude toward East Jerusalem.

The European diplomats, mainly consuls, also recommend that EU officials and politicians refuse to visit Israeli government offices that are located beyond the Green Line and that they decline any Israeli security in the Old City and elsewhere in East Jerusalem.

The report, which was completed last month, was sent to the EU’s main foreign policy body, the Political and Security Committee in Brussels. It was apparently not released at the time due to the sensitivity of its content.

The diplomats’ report also discusses the possibility of preventing “violent settlers in East Jerusalem” from being granted entry into EU countries. In the area of commerce, it recommends encouraging a boycott of Israeli products from East Jerusalem.

remainder in full: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/eu-diplomats-say-east-jerusalem-should-be-treated-as-palestinian-capital-1.336109

Gotta appreciate the European sense of humor.

See how that suggestion goes over with the EU diplomats

Give Belgium to the Palestinians to form a Palestinian state with Brussels as its capital.

Then Egypt can take control of Gaza and Jordan can take control of the West Bank. Since Israel already has treaties with Egypt and Jordan, the three countries should be able to arrange matters agreeable to all parties.

Brilliant suggestion, and possibly worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.

I knew mine was a brilliant idea but I didn't think it necessarily deserved a Nobel Peace Prize. However, if you think it does then I'll defer to your superior judgment.

:)

Seems to me that would solve everyone's problems.

A new Israeli construction project could harm international efforts to revive Middle East peace talks.

Israel is considering a plan to build 1,400 new apartments in the Jewish neighborhood of Gilo in disputed East Jerusalem. But the United States and the Palestinians consider Gilo an illegal settlement because it was built on territory Israel captured from Jordan during the Six Day War in 1967.

Jerusalem Councilman Elisha Peleg supports the plan, which could be approved next week. He says Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and the city will not be divided.

"The Jews have the right to build in all parts of Jerusalem including East Jerusalem," said Peleg. "It is part of the city

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/New-Plan-for-1400-Homes-in-East-Jerusalem-113839819.html

The Jerusalem Development Authority recently removed scaffolding in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, disrupting the sensitive status quo in the area around the Western Wall. The authority, controlled by the Jerusalem municipality and by several ministries, removed scaffolding from under an arch supporting Palestinian homes in the Little Western Wall plaza (also known as the Little Kotel plaza ).

The move was carried out to make more room in the plaza for Jewish prayer and other events.

The courtyard faces a small of section of the western support wall of the Temple Mount. The largest open section of that same wall is known as the Western Wall.

Although the Israeli government never declared the Little Kotel plaza as a holy site, it is considered the second closest spot (after the Western Wall Tunnel ) to the "Holy of Holies," which was the most sacred place for Jews in the temple.

The right-wing organization Ateret Cohanim, headed by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, has been demanding for years that the scaffolding be removed to make room for prayer and other events, despite residents' objections. The Waqf (the Muslim religious trust ) has specifically warned against the removal of the scaffolds and opening the site to prayer gatherings, threatening a strong response.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/jerusalem-opens-muslim-quarter-jewish-site-to-prayer-upsetting-status-quo-1.336881?localLinksEnabled=false

"allowing extremists into the heart of the Muslim Quarter carries the danger of turning a resolvable political conflict into a violent religious one."

they will also treat west Jerusalem as Israel's capital (which it actually is)

completely separate cities, which currently it does not seem to