LONDON, December 7, 2017 (WAFA) – British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement late Wednesday that she views the decision by the United States President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as unhelpful to peacemaking in the region.
“We disagree with the US decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final status agreement. We believe it is unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region. The British Embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it,” May said in a press statement.
She added, “Our position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states.”
May reiterated the UK’s position that “in line with relevant Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
She urged the US administration to “now bring forward detailed proposals for an Israel-Palestinian settlement.”
M.N./M.K.
