1st LD: UK disagrees with U.S. decision on Jerusalem, no plans to move embassy, envoy says

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- A British envoy said Friday that his country does not agree with the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and has no plans to move the British Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Britain's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and longstanding: it should be determined through a negotiated settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, and Jerusalem should ultimately be the shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states, said Matthew Rycroft, the British ambassador to the United Nations.

"We therefore disagree with the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem and unilaterally to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital before a final-status agreement," Rycroft told an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the issue of Jerusalem.

The meeting was called by Britain and seven other council members following a decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

"These decisions are unhelpful to the prospects for peace in the region, an aim that I know all of us in this council remain committed to. The British Embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv and we have no plans to move it."

In line with relevant Security Council resolutions, Britain regards East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, he said.

Rycroft called on the U.S. administration to bring forward detailed proposals for an Israeli-Palestinian settlement, as it claims to be committed to peace. "The UK will also do everything we can to support progress and achieve the vision of a lasting peace." Enditem