Palestinian PM calls US participation in east Jerusalem dig 'irresponsible behaviour'

Record ID: 1421476

  • Title: Palestinian PM calls US participation in east Jerusalem dig 'irresponsible behaviour'
  • Date: 1st July 2019
  • Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (JULY 1, 2019) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER MOHAMMED SHTAYYEH APPROACHING MEDIA PALESTINIAN FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (English) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER MOHAMMED SHTAYYEH SAYING: "We totally condemn this very irresponsible behaviour of the American ambassador who is simply participating in digging tunnels under Jerusalem through Silwan. This actually contributes to the escalation of violence in the region and we hope that all these irresponsible acts should be stopped and that this behaviour of the ambassador and his statements -- whether it has to do with the Jordan Valley or calling for annexation of certain parts in the West Bank -- this is totally not acceptable to us, it should be condemned and I think the American administration should really remove him from his position." SHTAYYEH WALKING INTO BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2019 09:58
  • Keywords: east Jerusalem US envoys Shtayyeh
  • Location: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ JERUSALEM
  • City: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK/ JERUSALEM
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
  • Reuters ID: LVA002ALY65ON
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. envoys attendance in the inauguration of a Jewish heritage site in East Jerusalem drawing Palestinian condemnation on Monday (July 1).
    Palestinians - who view the heritage project and settlement activities in the Silwan district as moves by Israel to further cement control over areas it captured in the 1967 Middle East war - called the U.S. participation in the event "irresponsible" and called for the removal of the ambassador from his position.
    Two of Trump's top Middle East advisers - peace envoy Jason Greenblatt and Ambassador to Israel David Friedman - came to the opening of an excavated road that Israeli archaeologists say was used by Jewish pilgrims to Jerusalem two millennia ago.
    The "Pilgrims' Road" site is part of the City of David, an open-air Jewish archaeological attraction open to the public and built within the East Jerusalem district of Silwan through purchases of Palestinian-owned property that have at times been contested in court.
    Israel captured Silwan and neighbouring districts in the 1967 conflict, annexed and settled them, angering foreign powers that back the Palestinians' goal of building a capital there for a future state taking in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
    Breaking with long-standing U.S. policy and international consensus, U.S. President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017.
    He left open the possibility of a future Palestinian foothold there under a negotiated peace deal.
    (Production: Saed Hawari, Lianne Gross)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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