EU envoys: Palestinians deserve East Jerusalem



TEL AVIV //The European Union should treat East Jerusalem as the de facto capital of the future Palestinian state in protest at Israeli settlement policies, EU diplomats have said in a leaked report.

The consuls-general in Jerusalem and Ramallah also recommended that the EU take more concrete steps against Israel's expansion of Jewish homes in East Jerusalem. They could include advancing the growing European consumer boycott of settlement products and services, including staying at Jewish-owned hotels in East Jerusalem, the report said.

East Jerusalem is the most explosive issue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The report is likely to anger Israel, and bolster the Palestinians' case for their future capital.

It also comes at an especially sensitive time, with the conflict over East Jerusalem serving as a key reason for the stalemate in direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel in September refused to extend the 10-month moratorium on settlement construction that expired at the end of that month, partly because it did not want the building freeze to include East Jerusalem.

That rejection spurred the Palestinians to refuse to return to the US-mediated, face-to-face negotiations that had started just three weeks earlier.

In an escalation of the dispute over East Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, yesterday dismissed US and European condemnation of plans to build more Jewish homes at a controversial hotel complex in the mostly-Arab Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood.

On Sunday, workmen and earth-moving equipment demolished a part of the Shepherd Hotel to begin making way for the construction of as many as 70 apartments for Jews.

Palestinians have contested a pro-settler American Jew's 1985 purchase of the hotel, which was built in the 1930s for a prominent Arab family and confiscated by Israel after the country took over East Jerusalem in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Mr Netanyahu, in a statement issued by his office, defended the property's acquisition as legal and added: "There should be no expectation that the state of Israel will impose a ban on Jews purchasing private property in Jerusalem."

He also insisted that the government was not involved in the hotel's building plans, which he said were being conducted by "private individuals".

Nevertheless, the leaked EU report reflects increasing impatience with Israeli policies.

The document recommended that European politicians and officials refuse to visit Israeli governmental offices or settler-owned archaeological sites in East Jerusalem, and reject Israeli security services in the area.

It also suggested possibly preventing the entrance into the EU of settlers known for violent behaviour towards Palestinians, and working to re-open official Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, which were forcibly shut down by Israel in 2001.

The report also advises that European officials be present at Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem and at court proceedings involving Israeli plans to raze more Palestinian houses or conduct arrests of Palestinian activists carrying out nonviolent protests.

Such recommendations are likely to boost the Palestinian campaign to gain worldwide recognition for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state without waiting to reach a peace pact with Israel.

Yesterday, the Palestinian foreign minister, Riad Malki, said that he will seek recognition from the United Nations for a Palestinian state in September and continue lobbying for international backing of their campaign until then, according to the Associated Press.

On Friday, Chile became the fifth South American country to recognise the state of Palestine within the borders of the territory Israel captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War – namely, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip. Palestinian negotiators have said they had also submitted a request for such recognition from the EU but have not yet received an official response.

Garnering the support of the UN General Assembly for such recognition seems possible, the Associated Press has reported.

However, the US, Israel's most powerful ally, is likely to torpedo any vote at the UN's top body, the Security Council, on granting such recognition.

Nevertheless, the Palestinians hope that their campaign will help pressure Israel to make more concessions towards heeding their demand for an independent state within the pre-1967 borders.

The Palestinians' planned request in September will also coincide with the date that had been set last year by Barack Obama, the US president, as the target for reaching a negotiated peace deal. With talks stalled, that aim now appears increasingly implausible.

foreign.desk@thenational.ae

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate

Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

SEMI-FINAL

Monterrey 1 

Funes Mori (14)

Liverpool 2

Keita (11), Firmino (90 1)

HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX RESULT

1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 1:39:46.713
2. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 00:00.908
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 00:12.462
4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 00:12.885
5. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 00:13.276
6. Fernando Alonso, McLaren 01:11.223
7. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez, Force India 1 lap
9. Esteban Ocon, Force India  1 lap
10. Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren 1 lap
11. Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso 1 lap
12. Jolyon Palmer, Renault 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen, Haas 1 lap
14. Lance Stroll, Williams 1 lap
15. Pascal Wehrlein, Sauber 2 laps
16. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber 2 laps
17r. Nico Huelkenberg, Renault 3 laps
r. Paul Di Resta, Williams 10 laps
r. Romain Grosjean, Haas 50 laps
r. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 70 laps

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.