EU calls for Jerusalem to be shared capital

December 09, 2009|Associated Press

BRUSSELS - European Union foreign ministers urged Israel and the Palestinians yesterday to make Jerusalem their shared capital, prompting a swift, angry reaction from Israel.

For their part yesterday, the Palestinians announced a boycott of products made in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Economics Minister Hassan Abu Libdeh said his government had already confiscated $1 million worth of products, including foods, cosmetics, and hardware.

In Brussels, EU foreign ministers reiterated that the 27-member bloc would not recognize Israel’s annexation of the eastern part of Jerusalem after the 1967 war. The ministers called for Israel to share Jerusalem as a capital with a future Palestinian state.

Although the EU has long opposed the annexation, its statement is likely to deepen Israel’s sense that the Europeans favor Palestinian positions.

President Obama has been trying, in vain, to nudge the sides toward renewed peace talks.

“The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties,’’ said the ministerial statement. “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 Israeli Foreign Ministry reacted immediately. “We regret that the European Union chose to adopt the text,’’ spokesman Yigal Palmor said in a statement. He said the EU statement “does not contribute’’ to promoting peace and ignores the Palestinians’ refusal to resume talks.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refuses to resume peace talks, which broke down a year ago, unless Israel halts all settlement construction.

The Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayyad, welcomed the EU statement, saying it gives Palestinians “a better sense of hope and possibility about tomorrow.’’

The competing claims to east Jerusalem, home to Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, remain perhaps the most explosive issue in the conflict.