U.S., EU ambassadors said set to skip Jerusalem Day ceremonies

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"The ambassadors from the United States and the European Union countries will not attend the celebrations Wednesday to mark the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the Israeli media reported Sunday.

According to Army Radio, the envoy from Germany declined the invitation in the name of all EU states due to a dispute over the status of East Jerusalem as part of the Israeli capital.

A short time later, Israel Radio reported that American Ambassador Richard Jones will also not attend."

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"All of the embassies in Israel are based in Tel Aviv, and not Jerusalem, due to the disputed status of the capital.

The entire city fell under Israeli control during the 1967 Six-Day War, an event marked annually by Jerusalem Day.

The Palestinians, however, want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state. On Friday, the Peace Now movement held an alternative event in Jerusalem to "protest against the continuation of the occupation and to create hope for a Jerusalem of peace."

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/858909.html

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1. Updated link:

Olmert: Israel seeks world acceptance of a united Jerusalem under its sovereignty

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"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday he would seek to expand the borders of Jerusalem and that he hoped for eventual world acceptance Israeli sovereignty over the entire city.

At a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the reunification of the city in 1967, Olmert said: "The past 40 years are only the beginning. I believe, hope and pray that we will continue to work together to strengthen Jerusalem, to expand its borders, to cultivate its foundations, to build its neighborhoods."

In his remarks at the Western Wall remnant of an ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel hoped to achieve world acceptance of its rule in the city, by respecting its holiness to three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

"If we do this with wisdom and caution, we will preserve this city always under our sovereignty, complete and united and accepted by the entire world. This is our goal," Olmert said."

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2. Seven ambassadors attend event celebrating J'lem reunification

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"Only seven ambassadors attended the festive gathering at the Knesset Monday, celebrating 40 years of Jerusalem's reunification. In attendance were the ambassadors of Georgia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Congo, the Ivory Coast and Honduras.

The ambassadors of European Union members, the United States and most other countries represented in Israel boycotted the event because they do not recognize the legitimacy of a unified Jerusalem.

Also absent was the chairman of Meretz, MK Yossi Beilin, and MKs from Arab parties. Beilin said that "I did not want to lie to myself and participate in this strange event honoring the unification of Jerusalem, which never took place."

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/859540.html