1st LD Writethru: Trump decision on Jerusalem contradicts int'l law and Security Council resolutions: Swedish envoy

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital is against international law and Security Council resolutions, said a Swedish UN envoy on Friday.

"We clearly disagree with the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and with the plan for a move of the U.S. Embassy (from Tel Aviv) to Jerusalem," Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations, told an emergency meeting of the Security Council. "It contradicts international law and UN Security Council resolutions."

In 1947, the United Nations attributed to Jerusalem a special legal and political status as corpus separatum ("separated body"), he noted.

In 1980, when Israel attempted to declare Jerusalem as its capital, the Security Council stated in a resolution that this was a violation of international law.

The council further declared that attempts to change the character and status of Jerusalem were "null and void" and called upon all states to accept this decision as well as to withdraw their missions from Jerusalem. All states, up to now, abided by the Security Council's call, said Skoog.

In 2016, the Security Council again stated in a resolution that it will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations, he noted.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967.

Jerusalem is a final status issue and can therefore only be resolved through negotiations agreed between the parties, said Skoog.

"We consider Jerusalem to be the future capital of two states. We have never recognized Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem and we thus consider it part of occupied territory. And we believe that the future status ... of Jerusalem can only be resolved through negotiations."

The statement by Trump does not affect the position of Sweden, the European Union or the wider international community on the status of Jerusalem, he said.

Skoog said the U.S. decision is fuelling tensions and exacerbating instability in an already volatile and turbulent region.

The question of Jerusalem has an impact far beyond the region and there are already strong reactions to this decision around the globe. Clashes have taken place, resulting already in over 100 people injured, he said. "We call on all parties to maintain calm, show restraint and refrain from violence."

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict must not be turned into a religious one. Jerusalem is a holy city for the three Abrahamic religions. "More than ever we need respect, tolerance and dialogue to prevail over division and antagonism," said Skoog.

"We should not forget the strong ties to Jerusalem of both Israelis and Palestinians and that approximately 40 percent of the inhabitants of Jerusalem are Palestinians."

The U.S. decision risks, despite its stated intention to the contrary, prejudging the outcome of negotiations on final status issues, such as Jerusalem, and thus it threatens the peace prospect itself, said Skoog.

The two-state solution, which is recognized by the international community as the only viable solution to the conflict, is more threatened than ever, he said.

Sweden has a long-standing and firm commitment to the two-state solution, said the ambassador.

Seventy years ago, Sweden was one of 33 UN member states that voted in favor of General Assembly Resolution 181, which paved the way for the establishment of the state of Israel. In 2014, Sweden decided to recognize the statehood of Palestine as a logical consequence of its support for the two-state solution, said Skoog.

The Swedish envoy said Washington needs to match its claim to support Middle East peace with action.

"The United States has for decades played a key role in the quest for peace in the Middle East. We note the U.S. administration's stated intention to bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to facilitate a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians. Now words need to be followed by deeds and ideas by proposals. We encourage the United States to follow up its statement with action toward a two-state solution."

Now is the time to move forward with a detailed peace plan that enables the state of Israel and the state of Palestine to live side by side in peace and security with Jerusalem as the future capital of both states, said the ambassador.

Friday's emergency Security Council meeting was requested by Sweden and seven other members of the council. Enditem