Caution urged on US move over Jerusalem
China expressed concern on Wednesday about a possible worsening of regional tensions if US President Donald Trump carries out his reported intention of recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moves the US embassy.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the issue of Jerusalem’s status is complicated and sensitive.
“All parties should keep in mind the peace and tranquility of the region, act with caution and avoid undermining the long-term basis for solving the Palestinian issue and thus triggering new confrontation in the region,” he said.
Geng said China has always firmly supported and pushed forward the Middle East peace process, and supported the Palestinian people in their just cause of restoring their lawful national rights.
China supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine with full sovereignty, taking the 1967 borders as its basis and East Jerusalem as its capital, the spokesman added.
He urged all parties to commit to solving differences through negotiation and promotion of regional peace and stability according to the United Nations resolutions.
US senior officials said on Tuesday that Trump will recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on Wednesday and later move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Experts said that is likely to escalate tensions in the Middle East and undermine US standing as a peace mediator on Palestine-Israel issues.
In 1995, former US president Bill Clinton signed a law requiring that the US embassy in Israel be relocated to Jerusalem, unless the president issues a waiver every six months. Since then, all presidents have signed the waiver, believing the city’s fate should be decided in negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
Trump last signed the waiver in June. He vowed during his presidential campaign last year to move the US embassy in Israel. The officials said Trump will continue to sign the waiver until preparations for the embassy move are complete.
The status of the city is not settled: The Palestinians want to make East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel in 1967, their capital, while Israel declared the integral city of Jerusalem as its capital, a claim not recognized by the international community.