From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 10, 2017
US committed to Israeli-Palestinian peace, says official
A senior US official is appealing to Middle East leaders to calm tensions in the region following the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
In a briefing with Arab journalists, Acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield says Sunday that President Donald Trump’s pronouncement last week was a “recognition of simple reality” and not meant to prejudge final status negotiations about the city’s final borders.
He says he hopes Arab and world leaders understand the US remains committed to moving forward with a peace plan he expects to be unveiled in the new year.
“This is a question of choice: Do leaders choose to speak to their peoples, to their regions in terms that reflect reality or in terms that incite or inflame?” He says. “We hope it’s the former.”
— with AP
The Times of Israel Community.