France concerned over possible U.S. unilateral decision about Jerusalem

PARIS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday spoke to U.S. counterpart Donald Trump over the phone and expressed concern over possible U.S. unilateral decision about Jerusalem, the Elysee palace said in a statement.

Macron "expressed his concern over the possibility that the United States unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel" to Trump, according to the statement.

The status of Jerusalem, Macron said, will have to be settled in the framework of peace talks between Israel and Palestine.

The peace negotiations aimed in particular at the establishment of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Jerusalem as capital, it said.

The two leaders have agreed to talk to each other again soon about this issue.

U.S. media had reported that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering acknowledging Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and might announce that on Wednesday.

Any such announcement has inflammatory potential in an already volatile region.

Israel has controlled the western part of Jerusalem since its inception in 1948. In 1967, after the Mideast war, Israel captured the eastern part of Jerusalem from Jordan and declared both parts its united capital.

The move was never recognized by the international community, including Israel's closest ally, the U.S.

The Palestinians see eastern Jerusalem as the future capital of their state.

Jerusalem is home to sites holy to Islam, Judaism and Christianity, making it a focal point for many people around the globe. Enditem