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Benjamin Netanyahu visits Europe after US recognition of Jerusalem Macron tells Netanyahu that US recognition of Jerusalem is threat to peace
(about 2 hours later)
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has arrived in Europe on his first foreign trip since US recognition of Jerusalem as the the country’s capital triggered a wave of condemnation and protest. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has issued a warning about the threat to peace triggered by the decision by Donald Trump to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, which has sparked widespread Palestinian anger.
The visit comes as tensions remain high between Israelis and Palestinians over the issue, both in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and more widely in the region. He made the warning at a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu in Paris as the Israeli prime minister arrived in Europe for his first foreign trip since Trump’s decision.
In Jerusalem police reported that a 25-year old security guard was seriously injured in stabbing attack on Jaffa Street outside at the city’s central bus station. According to Israeli media the attacker was a 24 year old Palestinian man. At a press conference following the meeting, Macron said he had “told Netanyahu that Trump’s statement on Jeurusalem is a threat to peace and we are against it”.
In what was claimed to be video footage of the attack, the attacker is seen standing and calmly removing his jacket before suddenly lurching at the victim standing next to him and stabbing him once in the chest before fleeing.In Beirut, meanwhile, Lebanese security forces broke up a protest outside the heavily guarded US Embassy with tear gas after demonstrators pelted them with stones. It came hours after a Palestinian man stabbed an Israeli security guard in the chest in what police described as a “terrorist” attack. Palestinian media identified the assailant as 24-year-old Yasin Abu al-Qur’a from a village near Nablus in the northern West Bank.
Shortly before the attack, Qur’a reportedly posted on Facebook mentioning Jerusalem. “In your path, O homeland, O Jerusalem, O Al Aqsa, our blood is cheap,” he wrote less than a day before, referring to the sensitive al-Aqsa mosque.
The incident at Jerusalem’s central bus station came as violence flared elsewhere, including during a demonstration against Trump’s move outside the US embassy in Beirut.
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In Macron’s meeting with Netanyahu, he also suggested that an Israeli freeze on settlement building would be an important gesture, showing Israel was committed to peace. Macron has been leading the criticism of the US decision and rang Trump before his unilateral announcement to warn him of the likely damaging consequences for the Palestinian peace process. Since the announcement, he has described Trump’s decision as regrettable.
However, in uncompromising remarks unlikely to calm the ongoing crisis, Netanyahu replied by saying that the sooner Palestinians recognised the reality that Jerusalem was Israel’s capital, the sooner there would be peace.
Netanyahu also lashed out at the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been one of the most vociferous critics of Trump’s Jerusalem move, saying he would not “take lectures” from someone who bombs Kurdish villages, supports Iran and “terrorists” in Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister is due to travel to Brussels on Monday where he will meet the EU foreign policy chief, Frederica Mogherini, and hold a working breakfast with 27 EU foreign ministers.
Graphic footage of the incident in Jerusalem showed the attacker calmly handing his coat to the security guard before abruptly plunging a large knife into the guard’s chest. The attacker was pursued by a police officer and bystander before being subdued and arrested.
In Beirut, meanwhile, Lebanese security forces broke up a protest outside the heavily guarded US embassy with teargas after demonstrators pelted them with stones.
Protesters, some of them waving Palestinian flags, lit fires in the street and threw objects at members of the security forces who had barricaded the main road to the embassy.Protesters, some of them waving Palestinian flags, lit fires in the street and threw objects at members of the security forces who had barricaded the main road to the embassy.
Addressing the protesters, the head of the Lebanese Communist party, Hanna Gharib, declared Washington “the enemy of Palestine” the embassy “a symbol of imperialist aggression” that must be closed. Addressing the protesters, the head of the Lebanese Communist party, Hanna Gharib, declared Washington “the enemy of Palestine” and said the embassy was “a symbol of imperialist aggression” that must be closed.
Of all the issues at the heart of the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, none is as sensitive as the status of Jerusalem. The holy city has been at the centre of peace-making efforts for decades.Of all the issues at the heart of the enduring conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, none is as sensitive as the status of Jerusalem. The holy city has been at the centre of peace-making efforts for decades.
Seventy years ago, when the UN voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, Jerusalem was defined as a separate entity under international supervision. In the war of 1948 it was divided, like Berlin in the cold war, into western and eastern sectors under Israeli and Jordanian control respectively. Nineteen years later, in June 1967, Israel captured the eastern side, expanded the city’s boundaries and annexed it – an act that was never recognised internationally.Seventy years ago, when the UN voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, Jerusalem was defined as a separate entity under international supervision. In the war of 1948 it was divided, like Berlin in the cold war, into western and eastern sectors under Israeli and Jordanian control respectively. Nineteen years later, in June 1967, Israel captured the eastern side, expanded the city’s boundaries and annexed it – an act that was never recognised internationally.
Israel routinely describes the city, with its Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy places, as its “united and eternal” capital. For their part, the Palestinians say East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state. The unequivocal international view, accepted by all previous US administrations, is that the city’s status must be addressed in peace negotiations.Israel routinely describes the city, with its Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy places, as its “united and eternal” capital. For their part, the Palestinians say East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future independent Palestinian state. The unequivocal international view, accepted by all previous US administrations, is that the city’s status must be addressed in peace negotiations.
Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital puts the US out of step with the rest of the world, and legitimises Israeli settlement-building in the east – considered illegal under international law.Recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital puts the US out of step with the rest of the world, and legitimises Israeli settlement-building in the east – considered illegal under international law.
The US president’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has infuriated the Arab world and upset western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks causing further unrest in the Middle East.The US president’s recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital has infuriated the Arab world and upset western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks causing further unrest in the Middle East.
The Vatican on Sunday said Pope Francis was praying so that “leaders of nations” commit themselves to work to “avert a new spiral of violence” over Jerusalem. Its statement reiterated the Vatican position on “the essential need for respecting the status quo.” The Vatican on Sunday said Pope Francis was praying so that “leaders of nations” commit themselves to work to “avert a new spiral of violence” over Jerusalem. Its statement reiterated the Vatican position on “the essential need for respecting the status quo”.
Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it in 1967, to be occupied territory. They say the status of the city should be left to be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks. Israel says that all of Jerusalem is its capital, but Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state.Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it in 1967, to be occupied territory. They say the status of the city should be left to be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks. Israel says that all of Jerusalem is its capital, but Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future independent state.
All the current members of the UN Security Council, including the UK came together on Friday to condemn the Trump decision. All the current members of the UN security council, including the UK, came together on Friday to condemn the Trump decision.
Macron hosted Netanyahu for a working lunch in Paris on Sunday where he was expected to challenge the Israeli prime minister to explain whether he still supports a two state solution, or instead regards continued occupation of the West Bank as a viable long term solution.
Macron has been leading the criticism of the US decision, and rang Trump before the his unilateral announcement to warn him of the likely damaging consequences for the Palestinian peace process. Since the announcement he has described Trump’s decision as regrettable.
In recent years France has emerged as a key interlocutor for Palestinians in international forums as the Palestinian leadership has sought to internationalise a peace process for long dominated by US mediation. Earlier this year over 70 countries and international organisations attended a French-convened conference in Paris aimed at breathing new life into the Middle East peace process.
Netanyahu on Monday is due to travel Brussels where he will meet the EU foreign policy chief, Frederica Mogherini and hold a working breakfast with 27 EU foreign ministers.
Netanyahu was critical of EU leaders, who have also condemned the building of Israeli settlements in West Bank, as he left Israel late on Saturday.Netanyahu was critical of EU leaders, who have also condemned the building of Israeli settlements in West Bank, as he left Israel late on Saturday.
“While I respect Europe, I am not prepared to accept a double standard from it,” said Netanyahu, who has also faced heavy criticism from European leaders over Israeli settlement building. “While I respect Europe, I am not prepared to accept a double standard from it,” said Netanyahu. “I hear voices from there condemning President Trump’s historic statement, but I have not heard condemnations of the rockets fired at Israel or the terrible incitement against it. I am not prepared to accept this hypocrisy.”
“I hear voices from there condemning President Trump’s historic statement, but I have not heard condemnations of the rockets fired at Israel or the terrible incitement against it.
“I am not prepared to accept this hypocrisy,” he said.
Several rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Thursday and Friday following Trump’s declaration, leading Israel to respond with airstrikes that killed two people.Several rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward Israel on Thursday and Friday following Trump’s declaration, leading Israel to respond with airstrikes that killed two people.
Ahead of Netanyahu’s visit, Macron and Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, spoke by telephone about a joint diplomatic approach to try and persuade the US to row back on Jerusalem. Before Netanyahu’s visit, Macron and Erdoğan spoke by telephone about a joint diplomatic approach to try to persuade the US to row back on Jerusalem.
Arab League foreign ministers met for hours on Saturday to denounce the US decision as illegitimate and unlawful, but appeared to have held back from taking any new measures.Arab League foreign ministers met for hours on Saturday to denounce the US decision as illegitimate and unlawful, but appeared to have held back from taking any new measures.
Arab League chief Ahmed Abul Gheit said Trump’s decision was “against international law and raises questions over American efforts to support peace” between Palestine and Israel. The Arab League chief, Ahmed Abul Gheit, said Trump’s decision was “against international law and raises questions over American efforts to support peace” between Palestine and Israel.
The shift in US policy “undermines Arab confidence” in the Trump administration and “amounts to the legalisation” of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, he added. The shift in US policy undermined Arab confidence in the Trump administration and amounted to the legalisation of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, he added.
The ministers reiterated that such a move had no legal impact and was “void”, adding: “it deepens tension, ignites anger and threatens to plunge region into more violence and chaos.” The ministers reiterated that such a move had no legal impact and was void, adding: “it deepens tension, ignites anger and threatens to plunge region into more violence and chaos.”
The ministers agreed to “demand that the United States rescind its decision on Jerusalem … and the calling on the international community to recognise the state of Palestine … with east Jerusalem as its capital,” said the statement.The ministers agreed to “demand that the United States rescind its decision on Jerusalem … and the calling on the international community to recognise the state of Palestine … with east Jerusalem as its capital,” said the statement.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil went further than most by proposing during the emergency meeting that Arab nations should consider imposing economic sanctions against the US to prevent it moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.
“Pre-emptive measures (must be) taken ... beginning with diplomatic measures, then political, then economic and financial sanctions,” he said, without giving specific details.
Iraq also issued a statement saying it was disappointed the meeting did not take more radical measures.
But even countries traditionally close to the US such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE were blunt in their criticism of what the White House may have unleashed.
UAE Minister of State Anwar Gargash warned Trump’s decision was “a gift to radicalism as radicals will use it to fan the language of hate”.
He added: “I am not worried about today, tomorrow and the day after, I am worried that some people will see the decision as a turning point, like the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. I hope this is not a watershed, but it is a worry.”
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahayan also warned The US move could throw a lifebuoy to terrorist and armed groups, which have begun to lose ground in the region:.