12/8/2017

ISRAEL/PALESTINE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UN: “Fourteen of the 15 members of United Nations Security Council on Friday condemned President Donald Trump’s decision this week to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying it was in violation of U.N. resolutions and international law.
The Council held an emergency meeting on Friday [12-8-17] to discuss Jerusalem at the request of several members. The Council didn’t issue a statement, which would have required U.S. endorsement. Members also didn’t propose a resolution, because it could be vetoed by the U.S.
Instead, in a rebuke to Mr. Trump, diplomats for nearly three hours discussed the U.S. stance and said that their countries don’t recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. They agreed Jerusalem was a contested city under international law and represents the future shared capital of both Israel and Palestine, once a two-state solution is reached…
Three U.N. Security Council resolutions and a resolution by the General Assembly specify Jerusalem as one of the core issues—along with Jewish settlements, borders and right of refugees to return—that must be negotiated in the final stages of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.”

-Farnaz Fassihi, “Fourteen of 15 Security Council Members Denounce U.S. Stance on Jerusalem,” The Wall Street Journal online, Dec. 8, 2017 07:06pm