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Labour's Emily Thornberry says Jerusalem should 'be run by international body'
She acknowledges Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem but says Israel should have 'Tel Aviv as its capital'
May 15, 2019 11:11
She acknowledges Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem but says Israel should have 'Tel Aviv as its capital'
May 15, 2019 11:11Labour’s Emily Thornberry has said Jerusalem should be “run by an international body” while speaking of the “Palestinian claim” to the city “for their state when it is eventually recognised.”
In an interview on presenter Iain Dale’s LBC radio show on Tuesday evening, the shadow foreign secretary outlined her vision for “two states in that particular part of the Middle East” but failed to acknowledge any claim by the Jewish state to Jerusalem.
She told Mr Dale that Labour’s position on the issue “doesn't mean we don't agree there should be a state of Israel with Tel Aviv as its capital.”
Ms Thornberry referred to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest taking place in Tel Aviv before adding: “It would have been wrong for it to have been in Jerusalem because Jerusalem should not be... Jerusalem is highly contested.
“It takes me back to Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel was wrong and undermines international convention which is that Jerusalem should be an international capital of the entire world and it should be something that is run by an international body.
“And we know that the Palestinians claim part of Jerusalem for their state when it is eventually recognised.”
Ms Thornberry then said that Tel Aviv “is a gay capital as well. We can’t pretend the Eurovision doesn't have large following amongst the gay community.
“It’s like a kind of Gay Olympics people say. I watch it every year, and I think Israel won it last year so they are going to be hosting it.”
A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “It is absurd for Emily Thornberry to speak about Palestinian claims on the city of Jerusalem without even acknowledging Israel’s.
"We would expect her to clarify her inconsistencies and correct her one-sided view of this issue.”
The JC has contacted Ms Thornberry for clarification of her remarks on the status of Jerusalem.
A Labour source told the JC they considered Ms Thornberry’s remarks “odd and certainly not balanced.”
They added: “Jerusalem is an incredibly complex and complicated issue but there is a clear connection and to the city as far as Israel and the Jewish people are concerned.
“For the shadow Foreign Secretary to speak as she did raises concern about future Labour Party policy, unless of course she chooses to clarify her remarks on Iain Dale’s radio show.”
Dame Louise Ellman MP, LFI vice-chair, said: “I am deeply disturbed to see Emily Thornberry apparently advocating that Tel Aviv should be Israel’s capital and that Jerusalem should be ruled by an international body.
"It is both British foreign policy and Labour Party policy that sovereignty over Jerusalem should be shared by Israelis and Palestinians following direct negotiations by both peoples to secure a two-state state solution to this tragic conflict.
"By mentioning only the Palestinian links to Jerusalem, the Jewish people’s current, historic and religious connection to the city is denied. This is totally unacceptable. I have written to Emily Thornberry asking for urgent clarification of her reported comment.”
