Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem was not a matter up for discussion. The prime minister's comments came after the U.S. State Department told Israeli envoy Michael Oren that Israel must halt a construction project in East Jerusalem.
Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting that Jerusalem is the united capital of Israel and that all citizens are allowed to purchase property in any part of the city they choose.
"Imagine what would happen if someone were to suggest Jews could not living or purchase [property] in certain neighborhoods in London, New York, Paris or Rome," he said. "The international community would certainly raise protest. Likewise, we cannot accept such a ruling on East Jerusalem," Netanyahu told ministers.
This is the policy of an open city, he said, and Israel would not accept a stance that counters that civil right.
"Israeli Arabs are not forbidden from buying houses in west Jerusalem and Jews must be granted the same right in the eastern part of the city," he added.
The State Department summoned Oren over the weekend to advise him that the project developed by American millionaire Irving Moskowitz should not go ahead, according to both Israel Radio and Army Radio.
Moskowitz, an influential supporter of Israeli settlement in East Jerusalem, purchased the Shepherd Hotel in 1985 and plans to tear it down and build housing units in its place. The hotel is located near a government compound that includes several government ministries and the national police headquarters.
In response to the request, Oren told the State Department that Israeli construction in East Jerusalem was no different than in any other part of the country.
Jerusalem could not be considered along the same lines as settlements, he said, adding that Israel would not accede to this demand.
No comments:
Post a Comment