iPhone app iPad app Android phone app Android tablet app

Featuring fresh takes and real-time analysis from HuffPost's signature lineup of contributors
Hot on the Blog
Dr. Jill BidenLarry KingMarlo ThomasDr. Peggy Drexler

The Background on Jerusalem in International Relations

What's Your Reaction:
Amazing
 Inspiring
 Funny
 Scary
 Hot
 Crazy
 Important
 Weird
Read More: Barack Obama , East Jerusalem Expansion , George W. Bush , Israeli Settlements , Israeli-Palestinian Conflict , United Nations , Home News
Numerous recent developments have reconfirmed the centrality of Jerusalem to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Unilateral Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem,including the eviction of Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, building plans in Silwan, plans for the demolition of Palestinian homes in several parts of the city, controversial archaeological excavations, the rededication of a restored synagogue, and the announcement of 1,600 new settler housing units in Ramat Sholmo announced during the visit of VP Joseph Biden -- along with violent confrontations between Israeli troops and Palestinian protesters -- all point to the extraordinary significance of Jerusalem to the conflict and a peaceful resolution based on two states.

These developments are perceived as prejudicing permanent status issues and therefore complicating a resumption of talks, and undermining the credibility of negotiations and the viability of a two-state agreement. Moreover, because of its symbolic importance, any deterioration in Jerusalem has the potential to spill beyond the boundaries of Israel and Palestine, and play into the hands of those who want to redefine the conflict as a religious war.

The fate of Jerusalem can no more be decided unilaterally by any party than the conflict can itself be resolved unilaterally by any single party. With this in mind, my colleagues and I at the American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) compiled the following set of background links to American, European, Quartet and United Nations statements regarding Jerusalem over the years to contextualize this renewed attention. It does not deal with the many other aspects that make Jerusalem a unique and incendiary issue, but it does lay out the fundamentals of international opinion on the question.



Selected US Presidential Statements on Jerusalem

Selected Additional Sources on US policy towards Jerusalem
Selected EU Statements on Jerusalem

Selected Quartet Statements on Jerusalem


Selected UN Security Council Resolutions on the Status of Jerusalem


Selected Recent General Assembly Resolutions on the Status of Jerusalem



 
Related Blogs On Huffington Post:

 
 
  • Comments
  • 11
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
photo
tallen
panem et circenses
993 Fans
10:21 AM on 03/23/2010
In 1948 the arab armies swept into Jerusalem. They killed those Jews they caught, forced all others to flee, burned synagogues and homes, They banned all Jews from the city and religious holy places ( the ones they did not destroy) and placed severe restrictions on Christian access. The city itself sank into decay.
For nearly 20 years it remained that way. No UN sanctions on the arabs, no world outrage at the ethnic cleansing and the burning of Jewish houses of worship. Then the city was liberated in 1967. Since then it has flourished, religious sites for all religions have been restored, access to religious sites is maintained.
And that is what earns condemnation, not the arab stranglehold for 20 years that saw Jerusalem under the bootheels of the arab occupation.
Permalink  |
photo
Philip Moran
2 Fans
02:43 PM on 03/22/2010
If giving Jerusalem to terrorists is the answer, then God help us all!
How do 'intelligent' people come up with such ridiculous ideas.

The only answer is to fulfill the international law and treaties that already exist.
The 'two state solution' is already in place, it just needs to be re-discovered.

The current 'peace process' actually breaks international law and treaties in addition to the UN charter, article 80. USA politicians are asking/demanding that Israel break its own 1924 anglo-american treaty. This treaty endorsed the British Mandate of 1922 and is still a legaly binding document. The President is risking impeachment for daring to ask Israel to give up any land west of the Jordan.

Israel must follow international law and treaties and ignore the illegal rantings of the appreasers of evil.

All the land west of the Jordan, including all of Jerusalem, is Jewish land as determined by King Feisal in the Paris agreement with Weizmann, as determined by the San Remo Conference, as determined by the British Mandate given by the League of Nations and as determined by the USA anglo american treaty.

It is absurd in the light of so much international law and treaties to say that Israel has done anything illegal.

The Arabs must stop attacking Israel and get on with their lives elsewhere. The Kingdom of Jordan was created for them in 1922 on 78% of Palestine. Even that was an illegal act by Churchill.

History did not begin in 1948!
Permalink  |
photo
w00pecker5
44 Fans
03:55 PM on 03/22/2010
All East Jerusalem belong to the Palestinians. Not an atom of East Jerusalem belong to the Israel.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
JacksonJones
Absit iniuria verbis!
751 Fans
08:00 PM on 03/22/2010
Not so according to the article above.
Permalink  |
photo
juicyju
67 Fans
10:39 PM on 03/22/2010
Yup, Palestinian Jews.
Permalink  |
photo
alysheba 3
339 Fans
01:53 PM on 03/22/2010
Do you honestly believe that Israel or it's supporters here at HuffPo (or anywhere else in the world) truly cares about what the world says if it disagrees with the illegal actions of Israel?

Israel has spent decades lying and stealing, all the while thumbing it's collective noses at those who valued the Jewish religion enough to grant that religion a homeland. And that thumbing of it's collective noses will continue as long as the US supports Israel in all its illegal actions. And by vetoing UNSC votes on sanctions the US shows its support for those illegal actions.
Permalink  |
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
JacksonJones
Absit iniuria verbis!
751 Fans
08:02 PM on 03/22/2010
oh oh. Looks like somebody with a monkier starting with "A" is part of the problem, not part of the solution.....
Permalink  |
photo
juicyju
67 Fans
10:40 PM on 03/22/2010
Who? ;)
Permalink  |
photo
alysheba 3
339 Fans
11:10 PM on 03/22/2010
So asking America to treat Israel as it would any other country ignoring UN Resolutions is part of the problem?

You and juicy need to get out of you Bizarro World and return to reality. Asking for equal treatment for all is the solution, Unless you are an "Israel firster".
Permalink  |