UK faith leaders urge Liz Truss not to move Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, warning of threat to peace

UK faith leaders urged Liz Truss to drop it plan to move the British Embassy to Israel to Jerusalem, warning it will damage hopes for peace in the Middle East.
The Archbishop of Canterbury and Westminster have both spoken out against the proposed move - which would copy the controversial step taken by Donald Trump during his presidency.
A spokesman for Justin Welby said he was "concerned about the potential impact" before "a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis is achieved".
< p>England's oldest Catholic, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, also wrote to Ms Truss to say he could "see no reason reason for which a move must now be considered".
This would be "oath detrimental to any possibility of lasting peace in the region and to the international reputation of the United Kingdom", the letter reads. from the Archbishop of Westminster.
The criticism comes after Ms Truss raised the possibility of moving the British Embassy from Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid to New York last month.
The Prime Minister first floated the idea during the Conservatives' summer leadership campaign, in a letter to Conservative Friends of Israel.
The Israeli and Palestinian leaders consider Jerusalem their capital, and most countries have maintained their diplomatic presence in Tel Aviv until a two-state solution can be found.
Labour and Liberal Democrats also criticized the move, with the latter warning of a "provo cation" which risks stoking tensions.
Ms Truss said she understood the "significance and sensitivity" of the location of the embassy, but showed no signs of backing down.
In a statement to Jewish News, Mr Welby's spokesperson said: "The Archbishop is concerned about the potential impact of the transfer of the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before a negotiation a settlement between Palestinians and Israelis was reached.
"He is in contact with the Christian leaders of the Holy Land and continues to pray for the peace of Jerusalem".
Letter from Cardinal Nichols to Mrs. Truss states: "I urge you to reconsider the intention you have expressed and to focus all your efforts on the search for a two-state solution, in which Jerusalem would have special status guaranteed.
In a Twitter thread, he called for the "maintenance of the international status quo on Jerusalem, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions", adding: "The city must be shared as a common heritage, never becoming the exclusive monopoly of any party". p>

Politics Oct 9, 2022 0 78 Add to Reading List

UK faith leaders urge Liz Truss not to move Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, warning of threat to peace

UK faith leaders urged Liz Truss to drop it plan to move the British Embassy to Israel to Jerusalem, warning it will damage hopes for peace in the Middle East.

The Archbishop of Canterbury and Westminster have both spoken out against the proposed move - which would copy the controversial step taken by Donald Trump during his presidency.

A spokesman for Justin Welby said he was "concerned about the potential impact" before "a negotiated settlement between Palestinians and Israelis is achieved".

< p>England's oldest Catholic, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, also wrote to Ms Truss to say he could "see no reason reason for which a move must now be considered".

This would be "oath detrimental to any possibility of lasting peace in the region and to the international reputation of the United Kingdom", the letter reads. from the Archbishop of Westminster.

The criticism comes after Ms Truss raised the possibility of moving the British Embassy from Tel Aviv with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid to New York last month.

The Prime Minister first floated the idea during the Conservatives' summer leadership campaign, in a letter to Conservative Friends of Israel.

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders consider Jerusalem their capital, and most countries have maintained their diplomatic presence in Tel Aviv until a two-state solution can be found.

Labour and Liberal Democrats also criticized the move, with the latter warning of a "provo cation" which risks stoking tensions.

Ms Truss said she understood the "significance and sensitivity" of the location of the embassy, but showed no signs of backing down.

In a statement to Jewish News, Mr Welby's spokesperson said: "The Archbishop is concerned about the potential impact of the transfer of the British Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem before a negotiation a settlement between Palestinians and Israelis was reached.

"He is in contact with the Christian leaders of the Holy Land and continues to pray for the peace of Jerusalem".

Letter from Cardinal Nichols to Mrs. Truss states: "I urge you to reconsider the intention you have expressed and to focus all your efforts on the search for a two-state solution, in which Jerusalem would have special status guaranteed.

In a Twitter thread, he called for the "maintenance of the international status quo on Jerusalem, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions", adding: "The city must be shared as a common heritage, never becoming the exclusive monopoly of any party". p>