Russia Recognizes Israeli Capital - Jerusalem

 

Russia alongside United States Of America has become one of the few countries in the world to recognise west Jerusalem as Israeli's capital.

Russia in a surprise statement, has said that it recognizes west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

No other country in the world recognizes any part of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and nor does the UN.

The Russian announcement comes as US President Donald Trump is considering moving the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to west Jerusalem.

The statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry read: ‘We reaffirm our commitment to the UN-approved principles for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement, which include the status of east Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. At the same time, we must state that in this context we view west Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.’

The Jerusalem Post, which broke the story, said this marks a sharp shift in Russian policy, which until now has formally held that Jerusalem should eventually be under a permanent international regime.

Russia’s Ambassador to Israel, Alexander Shein, intends to meet with Foreign Ministry officials in the coming days to discuss the implication of the decision taken in Moscow.

However, reports said that there is currently no intention of moving Russia’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has yet to respond to the Russian move, but a foreign ministry spokesman, Emmanuel Nahshon, said Israel is ‘studying the statement’.

It added: ‘The concrete parameters of a solution for the entire range of issues regarding the status of Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, should be coordinated at the direct talks between the parties involved. Using its opportunities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a co-sponsor of the peace process and an active member of the Middle East Quartet of international intermediaries, Russia will continue to provide assistance to the achievement of Israeli-Palestinian agreements.’

Moscow will ‘focus on ensuring free access to Jerusalem’s holy places for all believers’ the statement also said.