UN Security Council to meet in emergency session on Jerusalem

UNITED NATIONS — The UN Security Council will meet on Friday in emergency session to discuss the decision by US President Donald J. Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the council’s leadership announced Wednesday.

The talks — requested by eight nations — will begin at 10:00 a.m. (1500 GMT), but there are other items on the agenda, so the Jerusalem issue may not come up until the late morning, said Japan, which holds the council’s rotating presidency.

Bolivia, Britain, Egypt, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden and Uruguay requested the talks. They have also asked UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres to open the meeting with remarks.

After Mr. Trump’s announcement, Mr. Guterres said Jerusalem’s final status could only be resolved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Mr. Guterres added that he had “consistently spoken out against any unilateral measures.”

“There is no alternative to the two-state solution.”

Bolivian Ambassador Sacha Sergio Llorenty Soliz called Mr. Trump’s move “a reckless and a dangerous decision which goes against international law, the resolutions of the Security Council.”

“It’s a threat not just to the peace process, but also it’s a threat to international peace and security,” said the envoy.

UN Security Council Resolution 2334, adopted in December 2016, “underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.”

At the time, former US president Barack Obama’s government abstained from voting on the measure, allowing its adoption. — AFP