Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., May 05, 2008 Nisan 30, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:31 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 23:53 13/05/2007
Olmert: Israel seeks world acceptance of a united Jerusalem under its sovereignty
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday he would seek to expand the borders of Jerusalem and that he hoped for eventual world acceptance Israeli sovereignty over the entire city.

At a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the reunification of the city in 1967, Olmert said: "The past 40 years are only the beginning. I believe, hope and pray that we will continue to work together to strengthen Jerusalem, to expand its borders, to cultivate its foundations, to build its neighborhoods."

In his remarks at the Western Wall remnant of an ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel hoped to achieve world acceptance of its rule in the city, by respecting its holiness to three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Advertisement
"If we do this with wisdom and caution, we will preserve this city always under our sovereignty, complete and united and accepted by the entire world. This is our goal," Olmert said.

Meanwhile, the ambassadors from the United States and the European Union countries will not attend the celebrations Wednesday to mark the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the Israeli media reported Sunday.

Ra'am-Ta'al MK Ahmed Tibi welcomed the decision not to attend celebrations for what he termed "the so-called unification of Jerusalem."

According to Army Radio, the envoy from Germany declined the invitation in the name of all EU states due to a dispute over the status of East Jerusalem as part of the Israeli capital.

A short time later, Israel Radio reported that American Ambassador Richard Jones will also not attend.

The Foreign Ministry explained it had invited diplomats to attend a ceremoney commemorating 40 years since the unification of East and West Jerusalem at the Knesset.

"We regret the EU's announcement by which its representatives will not take part in this event, and expect the participation of many other diplomats," it added.

All of the embassies in Israel are based in Tel Aviv, and not Jerusalem, due to the disputed status of the capital.

The entire city fell under Israeli control during the 1967 Six-Day War, an event marked annually by Jerusalem Day.

The Palestinians, however, want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state. On Friday, the Peace Now movement held an alternative event in Jerusalem to "protest against the continuation of the occupation and to create hope for a Jerusalem of peace."
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Under probe
Olmert stays focused on work despite new allegations.
Taxi Hamas
Hamas police cars serve as taxis in fuel-starved Gaza.
  1.   To Quote Ben Gurion 08:38  |  Yishai Kohen 13/05/07
  2.   Who cares what the E.U. thinks or says! 08:43  |  Avraham 13/05/07
  3.   EU Governments include many appeasers of Jihaddists 09:17  |  Vittorio 13/05/07
  4.   Another quote from Ben Gurion 09:19  |  A.M. 13/05/07
  5.   Sadaam also celebrated the liberation of Kuwait 09:19  |  Joe 13/05/07
  6.   You don`t get! 09:21  |  Neil 13/05/07
  7.   EAST JERUSALEM MUST REMAIN PALESTIAN 09:21  |  Markus 13/05/07
  8.   #2, The EU is our fig leaf! 09:48  |  EhadHaAm 13/05/07
  9.   Too bad it`s not possible 09:50  |  Daniel 13/05/07
  10.   Are there any ambassadors in the ceremonies 09:54  |  Petteri 13/05/07
  11.   Note to Number 5 09:54  |  Daniel 13/05/07
  12.   To quote Moshe Dayan 09:57  |  Amoz 13/05/07
  13.   RE: Who cares what the E.U. thinks or says! 09:58  |  Petteri 13/05/07
  14.   Jerusalem isn`t Israel`s capital city? 10:05  |  Jason 13/05/07
  15.   To Neil, No. 6 10:09  |  Dan 13/05/07
  16.   Unification 10:10  |  Ehud 13/05/07
  17.   East Jerusalem and the Wall 10:11  |  Jason 13/05/07
  18.   Part of Jerusalem can`t "remain Palestinian"; It never was! 10:20  |  Aaron 13/05/07
  19.   WHAT A PREDICAMENT 10:32  |  indrajaya 13/05/07
  20.   Neil, you don´t get it 10:37  |  Michael 13/05/07
  21.   Jerusalem will never be recognised as Israel`s capital 10:44  |  Clickfool 13/05/07
  22.   Bravo EU 11:00  |  Simba 13/05/07
  23.   to #1, Yishai Kohen - who does not know history 11:11  |  Burkhardt 13/05/07
  24.   The Golden Veal ? 11:13  |  Silex 13/05/07
  25.   A (European) message in a bottle..... 11:34  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/05/07
  26.   EU ambassadors are promoting a violance of Arabs. 11:53  |  Vital 13/05/07
  27.   # 7 re East Jerusalem 12:13  |  Mordechai Beck 13/05/07
  28.   re: Vittorio #3 12:29  |  Paulo 13/05/07
  29.   #8- Jerusalem is the eternal the capital of Am Yisroel! 12:30  |  Avraham 13/05/07
  30.   Jerusalem is ours. 12:30  |  David Nigel Braham 13/05/07
  31.   # 9 Daniel 13:15  |  Axel 13/05/07
  32.   The EU.......Yawn. 13:16  |  James Johnson 13/05/07
  33.   The US ambassador is boycotting as well 13:19  |  Steve 13/05/07
  34.   # 18 Michael 13:20  |  Axel 13/05/07
  35.   No. 13--Dan 13:22  |  Steve 13/05/07
  36.   # 24 Vital 13:25  |  Axel 13/05/07
  37.   The Only Solution For Jerusalem 13:27  |  Walt Dizzy 13/05/07
  38.   What I am asking myself is 13:30  |  Axel 13/05/07
  39.   Paulo, you don`t even recognize Israel`s right to exist at all so 13:46  |  Ben Ami 13/05/07
  40.   jewish capitol 13:50  |  Jeremy G 13/05/07
  41.   It is shameful, truly shameful to read that the EU 13:53  |  Olga 13/05/07
  42.   The EU and her fools 14:06  |  Dror 13/05/07
  43.   Markus #7 14:11  |  Axel 13/05/07
  44.   G-D told abraham from the nile to euphrates 14:14  |  hierokeryx 13/05/07
  45.   arafat repeated it until people believed it 14:22  |  Sharon 13/05/07
  46.   RE too bad it is not possible 14:25  |  Mahona 13/05/07
  47.   SHAME ON EU ?? 14:32  |  Bill. 13/05/07
  48.   For Olga # 41 14:36  |  Clickfool 13/05/07
  49.   #21 So what Clickfool? 14:44  |  Elizabeth Bennet 13/05/07
  50.   Jeremy G - Meaning of Antisemitism 14:44  |  Mahona 13/05/07
  51.   ALL WITH A FEW BRAIN CELLS `KNOW` JERUSALEM IS JEWISH!! 14:46  |  Ben 13/05/07
  52.   No. 9 Daniel 14:51  |  steve 13/05/07
  53.   acquisition of territory by force 15:00  |  Sophia 13/05/07
  54.   WE CARE-FORGET THE USA,EU AND THE REST 15:01  |  Issy Hass 13/05/07
  55.   For Elizabeth Bennet # 49 15:16  |  Clickfool 13/05/07
  56.   US starting to grow a backbone? 15:18  |  mike 13/05/07
  57.   How about the Serbian Ambassador?? 15:19  |  Gudrun 13/05/07
  58.   IT JUST SHOWS NEVER TRUST THE EU 15:24  |  M 13/05/07
  59.   America stabbed in the back by S.Arabia stabs Israel in the back 15:29  |  Absolute Sweden 13/05/07
  60.   Worse than Apartheid 15:33  |  Singer 13/05/07
  61.   Blatant anti-Israel behavior from our "friends". 15:42  |  Gideon Reader 13/05/07
  62.   ??? Reunification of Jerusalem ??? 15:47  |  Double Click 13/05/07
  63.   Protest US slap in the face 15:49  |  mike 13/05/07
  64.   Jerusalem 15:50  |  R Taber 13/05/07
  65.   What a shameful attitude, led by Germany, refusing to recognize 15:54  |  Petra 13/05/07
  66.   UNSCR 465, it couldn`t be clearer. 15:59  |  Amadeus M 13/05/07
  67.   Diplomats to Attend 16:00  |  Mary 13/05/07
  68.   Shame on them 16:04  |  Brod 13/05/07
  69.   JUST goes to show Jews "controll the world" doesn`t it? 16:05  |  PETER.SM 13/05/07
  70.   PETRA 16:06  |  Birgit 13/05/07
  71.   Jerusalem Day and buzzing German ships 16:09  |  Omran 13/05/07
  72.   # 51 Ben 16:13  |  Tareq 13/05/07
  73.   "Birgit" 16:16  |  Gunther 13/05/07