PA blasts Democrats’ affirmation of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Aide to Mahmoud Abbas says move might be ‘election propaganda’; cautions of ramifications if Palestinian claim not recognized

By Asher Zeiger and AP 6 September 2012, 8:32 pm Edit

Delegates cheer as First Lady Michelle Obama addresses the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, Sept. 3, 2012. (photo credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

The Palestinians criticized Thursday the US Democratic Party’s decision a day earlierto return language to their party platform that affirmed Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the Democrat’s decision might just be “election propaganda.” He said a failure to recognize the Palestinian claim to East Jerusalem will “destroy the peace process” and lead to “endless war.”

On Wednesday, the Democratic Party reinstated language into its platform affirming Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, after it came under fire for removing it.

According to campaign officials for President Barack Obama, the re-addition of the statement was a result of intervention by the US president.

The language is at odds with US policy calling for the status of Jerusalem to be resolved through negotiations.

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud) said on Thursday that the clause being removed in the first place is more cause for concern than its reinstatement is cause for celebration.

“It was no mistake nor instance of forgetfulness in the first place,” said Rivlin. “There is no doubt in my mind that President Obama restored Jerusalem to his party’s platform due to political and electoral considerations and the harsh criticism within Israel and the US.”

Rivlin called the issue “a problematic sign of the erosion of the US government’s strategic commitment toward Israel.”

Haviv Rettig Gur and JTA contributed to this report.