wfn.org | B'nai B'rith Condemns E.U. Proposal For East Jerusalem Palestine Capital

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> B?nai B?rith International
> Contact:  Sharon Bender
> 202-857-6699 or sbender@bnaibrith.org

B?NAI B?RITH CONDEMNS E.U. PROPOSAL TO DECLARE EAST JERUSALEM CAPITAL
OF PALESTINIAN STATE

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 2, 2009)­B?nai B?rith International is
appalled that the European Union will act on a proposal to declare
East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian
nation­sidestepping the fundamental process of negotiations. A
two-state solution, with guarantees of peace and security for Israel,
cannot simply be pronounced by outside parties.

This initiative, slated to be voted upon on December 7, omits what
should be obligatory steps in any future peace arrangement. Direct
negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians are the only way to
move forward on peace efforts. That has proven difficult as the
Palestinians repeatedly reject every overture Israel has offered.

Israel has once again taken steps to demonstrate its commitment to a
negotiated settlement. Most recently, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu called for a halt on construction in the West Bank. The
European Union?s actions also fail to acknowledge Israel?s success in
governing Jerusalem­home to holy sites for Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

?Declaring a capital for a future Palestinian state leaves nothing for
the parties to negotiate,? said B?nai B?rith International President
Moishe Smith. ?The European Union?s unilateral decision leaves out the
primary parties to the conflict.?

?Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of Israel,? B?nai
B?rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin
said. ?The European Union presumptuously delegitimizes the peace
process by removing the Jewish state from the negotiating framework.?

B?nai B?rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community,
is the oldest and most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights,
and advocacy organization.  For 166 years, BBI has worked for Jewish
unity, security, continuity, and tolerance.  Visit www.bnaibrith.org.

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