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Saudi paper says US plan to divide Jerusalem
A reporter from the Saudi-based paper Al Riyadh has claimed that US President Trump’s plan for Israeli-Palestinian talks will propose a division of Jerusalem.
Hadeel Oueis wrote on twitter that: “The Old City of Jerusalem will be divided in half: the Arab and Christian quarters will go to the Palestinian Authority, while the Jewish and Armenian quarters will fall under Israeli control.”
She added: “Arab areas adjacent to Palestinian Area A and B will go to a future Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem.”
Jared Kushner has recently completed a tour of Arab states in the region to generate support for the plan with Arab leaders. He told Sky News Arabic that the long-awaited US plan will address the core issues of the conflict.
Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Kushner said his team are trying to: “Formulate realistic solutions for the issues of 2019, which will improve quality of life”. He said the plan will have “a broad economic impact, not only on Israel and the Palestinians, but on the entire region as well,” adding that that the US wants to create new opportunities and ensure freedom of movement for people and goods.
Speaking about the split between the West Bank and Gaza, Kushner said: “We want to see the Palestinians united under one leadership, the Palestinians want a non-corrupt government that cares for their own interests.”
Kushner held meetings in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia. He was joined by US Special Representative for International Negotiations, Jason Greenblatt, and the US envoy on Iran, Brian Hook.
New Right leader Naftali Bennett has previously warned that the US plan would divide Jerusalem. He said: “Netanyahu and President Trump have agreed to come out with the plan to establish a Palestinian state on 90 percent of the West Bank. They’ve agreed not to present the plan before election day so that it doesn’t hurt Netanyahu, but a day or two after election day the plan will be presented, and will include the division of Jerusalem.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Bennett’s claims: “It’s natural for him to be anxious, and to get a little confused. It goes without saying that elections can do funny things to small parties.”