By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – Jerusalem should be the shared capital of the “Israeli and Palestinian states “, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Monday, following a meeting with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki.
“I reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and the two-state solution, the urgent need for renewed peace negotiations, and the U.K.’s clear and longstanding position on the status of Jerusalem: 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,” he said, according to a statement by the Foreign Office.
“The U.K.-Palestinian relationship is strong and long-standing and it was a pleasure to meet Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki to discuss our shared desire to strengthen it further, ” he added.
British Prime Minister Theresa May had reacted to the U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel last month.
“We want to see a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians; we believe that should be based on a two-state solution that should be a sovereign and viable Palestinian state but also a secure and safe Israel,” May had told lawmakers at the House of Commons.
Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Middle East conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem — occupied by Israel since 1967 — might eventually serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
U.S. President Donald Trump illegitimately recognized on Dec. 6 Jerusalem as the capital of Israel despite worldwide opposition.
