Gantz: Jerusalem has a place for the capital of Palestine

“Jerusalem will remain undivided, but there is room for the Palestinian capital,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz told a London-based Arab news agency Asharq al-awsat in an interview published Thursday, Israeli media reported. He expressed the hope that peace in the Middle East could be achieved by coming together to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I want the Palestinians to be part of the peace process.” Gantz was immediately attacked by former mayor of Jerusalem and former Likud MK Nir Barkat, saying, “Jerusalem is the capital of one nation. only. It is the capital of the eternal Jewish people “and is” the capital of the state of Israel. “

Likud MK Ze’ev Elkin, who is Minister of Higher and Secondary Education and Minister of Water Resources, tweeted, “Benny is upset. There is no place in a united Jerusalem for the Palestinian capital – no is and will never be so simple: No. “

The international community and the Palestinians maintain that East Jerusalem, including the Old City, is the future capital of the state of Palestine. Israel believes that a united Jerusalem should remain in its hands as the capital of the Jewish state. Gantz’s words, however, are consistent with U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan, which allowed Israel to retain sovereignty over land in Jerusalem within the security frontier. obstruction. He placed areas of Jerusalem a city outside the barrier, within the borders of the future state of Palestine. Jerusalem and Heritage Minister Rafi Peretz strongly criticized Gantz ‘s statement, saying that “United Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jews. ”He continued,“ It is the capital of no one else. Gantz: Since I know you, you believe it too. ”

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