{{short description|Legal and diplomatic status}} {{Broader|Status of territories occupied by Israel in 1967}} {{pp-extended|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Jerusalem large}}
The '''status of [[Jerusalem]]''' has been described as "one of the most intractable issues in the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]" due to the long-running territorial dispute between [[Israel]] and [[Palestine]], both of which claim it as their [[capital city]]. Part of this issue of sovereignty is tied to concerns over access to [[Religious significance of Jerusalem|the holy sites of Jerusalem in the Abrahamic religions]]; the current religious environment in Jerusalem is upheld by the "[[Status Quo (Jerusalem and Bethlehem)|Status Quo]]" of the former [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref name=WJ>Moshe Hirsch, Deborah Housen-Couriel, Ruth Lapidoth. [https://books.google.com/books?id=NUhGYFwhx-0C&dq=status+of+jerusalem+in+international+law&pg=PA15 ''Whither Jerusalem?: Proposals and Positions Concerning the future of Jerusalem''], [[Martinus Nijhoff Publishers]], 1995. pg. 15. {{ISBN|978-90-411-0077-1}}.</ref><ref>Leigh Phillips (19 November 2009). [http://euobserver.com/9/29018 "EU rebukes Israel for Jerusalem settlement expansion"]. ''EUObserver''. "The issue of Jerusalem is one of the most intractable issues in the Israel-Palestine conflict. While both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital, most countries maintain their embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] while the occupied territories are administered by the Palestinian Authority in the town of Ramallah."</ref> As the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]] has primarily navigated the option of a [[two-state solution]], one of the largest points of contention has been [[East Jerusalem]], which was part of the [[Jordanian annexation of the West Bank|Jordanian-annexed West Bank]] until the beginning of the [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli occupation]] in 1967.
The [[United Nations]] recognizes [[East Jerusalem]] (and the [[West Bank]] as a whole) as the territory for an [[History of the State of Palestine|independent Palestinian state]], thus rejecting Israel's claim to that half of the city. There is broader consensus among the international community with regard to [[West Jerusalem]] being Israel's capital city, as it falls within Israel's sovereign territory (per the [[Green Line (Israel)|Green Line]]) and has been recognized as under Israeli control since the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]].<ref name="WJ" />
Most countries and organizations support that West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem should be allocated as capital cities to the Israelis and the Palestinians, respectively;<ref>{{cite web |last=Sherwood |first=Harriet |date=30 January 2014 |title=Israel-Palestinian peace talks: the key issues |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/30/israel-palestinian-peace-talks-key-issues |access-date=10 December 2017 |work=The Guardian |quote=Both Israel and the future state of Palestine want Jerusalem as their capital. ... The international consensus is that Jerusalem would have to be the shared capital of both states.}}</ref> this position has been endorsed by the United Nations,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150510134721/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/19862D03C564FA2C85257ACB004EE69B ''A/RES/67/19 of 4 December 2012'']. United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly emphasized "the need for a way to be found through negotiations to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the capital of two States".</ref><ref>[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32762&Cr=jerusalem&Cr1 "Jerusalem must be capital of both Israel and Palestine, Ban says"]. ''UN News Centre''. 28 October 2009.</ref> the [[European Union]],<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/summary.do?id=1215058&t=d&l=en ''2012/2694(RSP) – 05/07/2012 Text adopted by Parliament, single reading'']. European Parliament. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140311083248/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/summary.do?id=1215058&t=d&l=en Archived] from the original on 11 March 2014.</ref><ref>Leigh Phillips (19 November 2009). [http://euobserver.com/9/29018 "EU rebukes Israel for Jerusalem settlement expansion"]. ''EUObserver''. Quoting a statement by the European Union: "If there is to be genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states."</ref> and [[France]], among others.<ref name=":0">[http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/israel-palestinian-territories_290/israel_2157/france-and-israel_4067/political-relations_6302/jerusalem-status-the-statement-made-by-the-israeli-prime-minister-is-detrimental-to-the-final-status-negotiations-21.05.09_12922.html Jerusalem's status: the statement made by the Israeli Prime Minister is detrimental to the final status negotiations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301113824/http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files_156/israel-palestinian-territories_290/israel_2157/france-and-israel_4067/political-relations_6302/jerusalem-status-the-statement-made-by-the-israeli-prime-minister-is-detrimental-to-the-final-status-negotiations-21.05.09_12922.html|date=1 March 2010}}, French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, (21 May 2009)</ref> [[Russia]], which is a member of the [[Quartet on the Middle East|Middle East Quartet]], already recognizes East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital and West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.<ref name="rus88" />
The majority of [[Member states of the United Nations|United Nations member states]] hold the view that the city's final status should be resolved through negotiations and have therefore favoured locating their embassies to Israel in [[Tel Aviv]], pending a final status agreement. Six countries have embassies to Israel in Jerusalem: the [[Israel–United States relations|United States]], [[Fiji–Israel relations|Fiji]], [[Guatemala–Israel relations|Guatemala]], [[Honduras]], [[Israel–Papua New Guinea relations|Papua New Guinea]], [[Israel–Paraguay relations|Paraguay]], and the disputed [[Israel–Kosovo relations|Republic of Kosovo]].<ref name="png-embassy-opened" /><ref name="auto2">{{cite news |title=Israel authorizes Slovakian embassy branch in Jerusalem |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-authorizes-slovakian-embassy-branch-in-jerusalem-679082 |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-09-18 |title=Fiji defies international pressure with Jerusalem embassy opening |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/fiji-opens-embassy-in-jerusalem-netanyahu-and-rabuka/105788478 |access-date=2026-02-10 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}}</ref>
==Background== {{See also|Timeline of Jerusalem}} [[File:JerusalemEastAndWest.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[http://www.passia.org/maps/view/55 Jerusalem municipal area]]] From 1517 until the [[First World War]], Jerusalem was part of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. It was part of the [[Damascus Eyalet|Damascus eyalet]] (province) until, as a result of [[Tanzimat|widespread administrative reform]] in the mid-1800s, it became an [[Mutasarrifate of Jerusalem|independent]] [[sanjak]] (district) in 1872. From the 1860s, the Jewish community became the largest religious minority grouping in the city and from 1887, with the beginning of expansion outside the old city walls, became a majority.<ref>Ruth Kark and Michal Oren-Nordheim (2001). [https://books.google.com/books?id=KzOAxmHDzHUC&pg=PA28 ''Jerusalem and Its Environs: Quarters, Neighborhoods, Villages, 1800–1948'']. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, p. 28.</ref>
Throughout the 19th century, European powers were competing for influence in the city, usually on the basis (or pretext) of extending protection over Christian churches and holy places. Much of the property that is now owned by the churches was bought during this time. A number of these countries, most notably France, entered into [[Capitulations of the Ottoman Empire|capitulation agreements with the Ottoman Empire]] and also established consulates in Jerusalem. In 1847, with Ottoman approval, the first [[Latin patriarch of Jerusalem]] since the Crusades was established.
After [[Battle of Jerusalem (1917)|capturing Jerusalem]] in 1917, the [[United Kingdom]] was in control of Jerusalem; initially under a [[Occupied Enemy Territory Administration|wartime administration]], then as part of the [[Mandate for Palestine|Mandate of Palestine]] [[San Remo conference|assigned]] to Britain in 1920. The principal [[Allies of World War I|Allied Powers]] recognized the unique spiritual and religious interests in Jerusalem among the world's [[Abrahamic religions]] as "a sacred trust of civilization",<ref>[http://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/131/131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf ''Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014013112/https://www.icj-cij.org/files/case-related/131/131-20040709-ADV-01-00-EN.pdf |date=14 October 2020 }}, Advisory Opinion, ICJ Reports 2004, p. 165 para. 70.</ref><ref>Paul J. I. M. de Waart (2005). "International Court of Justice Firmly Walled in the Law of Power in the Israeli–Palestinian Peace Process". ''Leiden Journal of International Law''. '''18''' (3): pp. 467–487. "The Court ascertained the legal significance of the 'sacred trust of civilization' of the League of Nations (LoN) in respect of the 1922 Palestine Mandate as the origin of the present responsibility of the United Nations".</ref> and stipulated that the existing rights and claims connected with it be safeguarded in perpetuity, under international guarantee.<ref>See, for example, [http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/palmanda.asp#art28 Article 28 of the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine].</ref>
However, the Arab and Jewish [[Demographic history of Palestine (region)|communities in Palestine]] were in mortal dispute and Britain sought United Nations assistance in resolving the dispute. During the negotiations of proposals for a resolution that culminated in the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]] (also known as Resolution 181) in November 1947, the historic claims of the Vatican, Italy and France were revived. The Vatican's historic claims and interests, as well as those of Italy and France were based on the former [[Protectorate of the Holy See]] and the [[French Protectorate of Jerusalem]]. From their point of view this proposal was essentially to safeguard Christian holy sites and was expressed as a call for the special international regime for the city of Jerusalem. This status was also confirmed in [[UN General Assembly Resolution 194]] in 1948, which maintained the position that Jerusalem be made an international city.<ref name="Kane">{{cite web |first=Gregory|last=Kane |title=Hearing the Sounds of Silence at Middle East Conference |work=[[Virginia Gazette]] |date=28 November 2007 |url=http://www.vagazette.com/bal-md.kane28nov28,0,6834786.column |access-date=27 July 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120190458/http://www.vagazette.com/bal-md.kane28nov28,0,6834786.column |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}</ref>
The United Nations Partition Plan called for the partition of Palestine into separate Arab and [[Jewish state]]s, with Jerusalem (with borders expanded to include Bethlehem, see [https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Jerusalem-as-an-International-city-in-the-UN-partition-Plan-1947_fig2_227535419 UN map of Jerusalem]) being established as a ''[[corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|corpus separatum]]'', or a "separated body", with a special legal and political status, administered by the United Nations.<ref>General Assembly resolution 48/158D, 20 December 1993. para. 5(c) stipulated that the permanent status negotiations should guarantee "arrangements for peace and security of all States in the region, including those named in resolution 181(II) of 29 November 1947"</ref> The [[Free City of Danzig]] was a historical precedent for this solution; [[Free Territory of Trieste|Trieste]] was a contemporaneous city ruled by the UN. Jewish representatives accepted the partition plan, while representatives of the Palestinian Arabs and the Arab states rejected it, declaring it illegal.<ref name=WJ/>
On 14 May 1948, the Jewish community in Palestine issued the [[Declaration of Independence (Israel)|Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel]], stating that it was "prepared to cooperate with [the UN] in implementing [the UN Partition Plan]".<ref>{{cite web |title=Declaration of Israel's Independence 1948 |url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/israel.asp |publisher=Yale Law School |date=2008 |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref> Israel became a member of the United Nations the following year and has since been [[International recognition of Israel|recognised by most countries]].<ref>[[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 273]].</ref> The countries recognizing Israel did not necessarily recognize its sovereignty over Jerusalem generally, citing the UN resolutions which called for an international status for the city.<ref name=JQ2005>{{cite book |last=Quigley|first=John|title=The Case for Palestine: An International Law Perspective |year=2005|publisher=Duke University Press |isbn=978-0-8223-3539-9 |page=93| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VaUvqHNd6m0C}}</ref> The United States, Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo have embassies in Jerusalem.<ref name="auto2"/>
With the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel and the subsequent [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|invasion by surrounding Arab states]], the UN proposal for Jerusalem was never implemented. The [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] left [[Jordan]] in control of the eastern parts of Jerusalem, while the [[West Jerusalem|western sector]] (with the exception of the [[Mount Scopus]] [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]] in the east) was held by Israel.<ref name=TJQ>{{cite book |last1=Lapidoth |first1=Ruth |last2=Hirsch |first2=Moshe |title=The Jerusalem Question and Its Resolution |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e93JIwTBjHgC |year=1994 |publisher=Martinus Nijhoff |isbn=978-0-7923-2893-3}}</ref> Each side recognised the other's ''[[de facto]]'' control of their respective sectors.<ref name=TRC>{{cite book |last=Korman |first=Sharon |title=The Right of Conquest: The Acquisition of Territory by Force in International Law and Practice |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ueDO1dJyjrUC |year=1996 |publisher=Clarendon Press |isbn=978-0-19-828007-1}}</ref> The Armistice Agreement, however, was considered internationally as having no legal effect on the continued validity of the provisions of the partition resolution for the internationalisation of Jerusalem.<ref name="Corpus Separatum">See: * "Corpus Separatum §33 Jerusalem" Marjorie M. Whiteman editor, US State Department ''Digest of International Law'', vol. 1 (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1963) pages 593–594. * ''Foreign relations of the United States, 1948. The Near East, South Asia, and Africa'' (in two parts) Volume V, Part 2, Page 748. * Ira Sharkansky (1996). ''Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World's Agenda''. Wayne State University Press. p. 23. {{ISBN|978-0-8143-2592-6}}; * John Quigley (1994). "The Legal Status Of Jerusalem Under International Law". ''The Turkish Yearbook Of International Relations'', vol. XXIV, pp. 11–25.</ref> In 1950, Jordan annexed East Jerusalem as part of its larger [[Jordanian annexation of the West Bank|annexation of the West Bank]]. Though the United Kingdom and Iraq recognized Jordanian rule over East Jerusalem,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Berger|first1=Marshall J. |last2=Ahimeir |first2=Ora |title=Jerusalem: A City and Its Future |date=2002 |publisher=Syracuse University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FGOY5oDGGLUC&pg=PA145 |isbn= 978-0-8156-2912-2 |page= 145}}</ref> no other country recognized either Jordanian or Israeli rule over the respective areas of the city under their control.<ref name=TJQ/> [[Pakistan]] is sometimes falsely claimed to have recognized the annexation as well.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Silverburg |first=Sanford R. |date=April 1983 |title=Pakistan and the West Bank: a Research Note |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4282940 |journal=[[Middle Eastern Studies (journal)|Middle Eastern Studies]] |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=261–63 |doi=10.1080/00263208308700547 |via=[[JSTOR]]}}</ref>
Following the [[Six-Day War]] of 1967, Israel declared that [[Israeli law]] would be applied to East Jerusalem and enlarged its eastern boundaries, approximately doubling its size. The action was deemed unlawful by other states who did not recognize it. It was condemned by the UN Security Council and General Assembly which described it as an annexation and a violation of the rights of the Palestinian population. In 1980, Israel passed the [[Jerusalem Law]], which declared that ''"Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel"''.<ref name= kbl>[https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic10_eng.htm "Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel (Unofficial translation)"]. ''www.knesset.gov.il''. Passed by the Knesset on the 17th Av, 5740 (30 July 1980).</ref> The Security Council declared the law null and void in [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 478|Resolution 478]], which also called upon member states to [[List of diplomatic missions in Israel|withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city]]. The UN General Assembly has also passed numerous resolutions to the same effect.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130616063531/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/34BE727D1EED7D688525799500579D23 "A/RES/66/18 of 26 January 2012"]. United Nations General Assembly. Archived from [https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/34BE727D1EED7D688525799500579D23 the original] on 3 February 2014.</ref><ref name=JQ20052>{{cite book|last=Quigley|first=John|title=The Case for Palestine: An International Law Perspective|year=2005|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0-8223-3539-9|page=173|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VaUvqHNd6m0C}}</ref><ref name=MA2009>{{cite book|last=Amirav|first=Moshe|title=Jerusalem Syndrome: The Palestinian-Israeli Battle for the Holy City|year=2009|publisher=Sussex Academic Press|isbn=978-1-84519-348-5|pages=26–27|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IH9l4fUKZ_MC&q=%22Capital%20of%20Israel%22&pg=PA26}}</ref>
==Prelude: UN resolution from 1947== On 29 November 1947 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution which, as part of its Partition Plan for Palestine, included the establishment of Jerusalem as a separate international entity under the auspices of the United Nations, a so-called ''[[Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|corpus separatum]]''.
==Israel== {{Further|Reunification of Jerusalem|Jerusalem Law}}[[File:Knesset in Jerusalem Israel.jpg|thumb|The [[Knesset]] (Israel's parliament), located in [[Givat Ram]], Jerusalem]] During the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], Israel took control of [[West Jerusalem]] while [[Jordan]] took control of East Jerusalem (including the walled [[Old City (Jerusalem)|Old City]] in which most holy places are located).<ref name=TJQ/> Although accepting partition before the war, Israel rejected the UN's ''corpus separatum'' decision at the [[Lausanne Conference of 1949]], and instead indicated a preference for division of Jerusalem into Jewish and Arab zones, and international control and protection only for holy places and sites.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130705171032/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/2C25E1B7AADB7CC685256AF5005F6D18 ''Letter dated 31 May 1949, addressed by Mr. Walter Eytan, Head of the Delegation of Israel''] (doc.nr. A/AC.25/Com.Jer/9 d.d. 1 June 1949)</ref><ref>FRUS, 1949. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Section Israel. United States Department of State, [http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/FRUS/FRUS-idx?type=goto&id=FRUS.FRUS1949v06&isize=M&submit=Go+to+page&page=662 ''Telegram from US consul to Secretary of State'']. FRUS, 1949, pp. 661–663, 13 January 1949</ref> Also in 1949, as the UN General Assembly began debating the implementation of its ''corpus separatum'' decision, Israel declared Jerusalem as Israel's "eternal capital".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.knesset.gov.il/docs/eng/bengurion-jer.htm|title=Jerusalem Day |website= www.knesset.gov.il |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref><ref name=lapidoth/>
After Israel conquered East Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967 during the [[Six-Day War]], Israel argued that it had the stronger right to the city.<ref name=TJQ/> Very soon after its conquest of East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel merged East Jerusalem with West Jerusalem by [[Reunification of Jerusalem|administratively extending the municipal boundary of the city]].
In July 1980, the [[Knesset]] passed the [[Jerusalem Law]] as part of the country's [[Basic Laws of Israel|Basic Law]], which declared Jerusalem the unified capital of Israel.<ref name="basiclaw">{{cite web |url= http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1980_1989/Basic%20Law-%20Jerusalem-%20Capital%20of%20Israel |publisher= Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=2 April 2007 |date=30 July 1980 |title= Basic Law: Jerusalem, Capital of Israel}}</ref>
===Legal positions since Oslo Accords=== According to a 1999 statement by the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], "There is no basis in international law for the position supporting a status of [[Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|'corpus separatum']] (separate entity) for the city of Jerusalem."<ref name="Jerusalem status">[http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1999/3/The+Status+of+Jerusalem.htm The Status of Jerusalem]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160504024411/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mfa-archive/1999/pages/the%20status%20of%20jerusalem.aspx Archived] from the original on 4 May 2016. ''Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs''. 14 March 1999. Quote comes from §IV.</ref> In the view of the ministry, the concept of ''corpus separatum'' became irrelevant after the Arab states rejected the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]] and [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|invaded the newly created State of Israel]] in 1948. Accordingly, the ministry states, "There has never been any agreement, treaty, or international understanding which applies the 'Corpus Separatum' concept to Jerusalem."<ref name="Jerusalem status"/>
In 2003 Israel argued that Jordan had no rights to any land west of the Jordan River, that it had taken the West Bank and East Jerusalem by an act of aggression, and therefore never acquired sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web |last= Einhorn |first= Talia |title= The Status of Palestine/Land of Israel and Its Settlement Under Public International Law |url= http://www.acpr.org.il/english-nativ/issue1/einhorn-1.htm |website= NATIV online, vol. 1 / 2003 |access-date=11 March 2018 |date= 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Disputed Territories – Forgotten Facts About the West Bank and Gaza Strip |url= http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFA-Archive/2003/Pages/DISPUTED%20TERRITORIES-%20Forgotten%20Facts%20About%20the%20We.aspx |website= mfa.gov.il |publisher= Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=11 March 2018 |date=1 February 2003}}</ref>
Positions on the final status of Jerusalem have varied with different Israeli governments. The [[Oslo Accords]] declared that the final status of Jerusalem would be negotiated, but Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] declared that he would never divide the city. In 1995, he allegedly told a group of school children{{dubious|And what did he tell his barber? Let's get real.|date=June 2019}} that "if they told us peace is the price of giving up a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, my reply would be 'let's do without peace'".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jcpa.org/jcprg10.htm|title=Jerusalem History|website=www.jcpa.org|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> This position was upheld by his successor, [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], who stated there would be "...No withdrawal or even discussion of the case of Jerusalem...".<ref>Hawas, Akram T. ''The new alliance: Turkey and Israel {{Cite web |url=https://www.smi.uib.no/pao/hawas.html |title=Turkey and Israel |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=22 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222112048/http://www.smi.uib.no/pao/hawas.html |url-status=live }}''. The fourth Nordic conference on Middle Eastern Studies: The Middle East in globalizing world. Oslo, 13–16 August 1998.</ref>
Netanyahu's successor, [[Ehud Barak]], during negotiations, became the first Israeli prime minister to allow for a possible division of Jerusalem, despite his campaign promises.<ref>{{cite web |author= Dore Gold |author-link= Dore Gold |url= http://www.jcpa.org/jcprg10.htm |title= Jerusalem History |publisher=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]] |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
Prime minister during the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada|second intifada]], [[Ariel Sharon]] was unequivocal in his support for an undivided Jerusalem. In an interview done one week before a stroke incapacitated him he stated: "Our position is that Jerusalem is not negotiable. We are not going to negotiate on Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be forever a united and undivided capital of Israel."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3196291,00.html|title=Sharon's last interview before stroke|last=Bodoni|first=Ronen|date=1 June 2006|website=Ynetnews|language=en|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref> Prime Minister (and former Jerusalem mayor) [[Ehud Olmert]] vowed to keep Jerusalem the "undivided, eternal capital of the Jewish people",<ref>{{cite web |last1= Avishai |first1= Bernard |title= The Israel Peace Plan That Still Could Be |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/magazine/13Israel-t.html |website= The New York Times |access-date=11 March 2018 |date=7 February 2011}}</ref> but later supported the detachment of several Arab neighborhoods from Israeli sovereignty and the introduction of an international trust to run the [[Temple Mount]].
When Netanyahu succeeded Olmert, he declared that "all of Jerusalem would always remain under Israeli sovereignty" and that only Israel would "ensure the freedom of religion and freedom of access for the three religions to the holy places".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100907011413/http://www.haaretz.com/news/netanyahu-jerusalem-holy-sites-will-remain-israeli-forever-1.276465 "Netanyahu: Jerusalem holy sites will remain Israeli forever"]. ''Haaretz''. 21 May 2009.</ref> These statements seem to closely reflect Israeli public opinion. According to a 2012 poll by the right-wing [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], 78% of Jewish voters who responded said that they would reconsider voting for any politician that wants to relinquish Israel's control over the Old City and East Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite magazine |author= Karl Vick |url= https://world.time.com/2012/12/31/the-west-banks-2012-the-year-of-the-israeli-settlement/?iid=gs-main-lead | magazine= Time |title= The West Bank's 2012: The Year of the Israeli Settlement |date=31 December 2012}}</ref> On 17 May 2015, Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] reiterated, regarding Jerusalem serving as the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state, "Jerusalem has forever been the capital of only the Jewish people and no other nation."<ref>{{cite news |title= Israel's foreign relations: Contra mundum |url= https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21651865-israels-new-government-running-out-friends-abroad-contra-mundum |access-date=24 May 2015 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date= 21 May 2015}}</ref>
On 2 January 2018 Israel passed into law new legislation that requires the two-thirds majority support of the Knesset for any section of Jerusalem to be transferred to a foreign government.<ref>{{cite news|title=In late night vote Knesset passes law to hinder East Jerusalem withdrawal|newspaper=[[The Times of Israel]]|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-late-night-vote-knesset-passes-law-to-hinder-east-jerusalem-withdrawal}}</ref> On 25 January 2018, Netanyahu repeated the previous government position, saying: "Under any peace agreement, the capital of Israel will continue to be Jerusalem, and the seat of our government will continue to be in Jerusalem."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Benjamin-Netanyahu/WATCH-LIVE-Prime-Minister-Netanyahu-speaks-at-the-World-Economic-Forum-539789|title=Netanyahu at Davos: Jerusalem to remain capital under any peace agreement|work=Jerusalem Post|date=25 January 2018}}</ref>
==Palestine== {{see also|Israel–Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition|Thawabit}} During the British Mandate, the main representation of the Palestinian Arabs was the [[Arab Higher Committee]], formed in the beginning of the [[Arab Revolt|Great Arab revolt]] in 1936; it was outlawed in 1937 and its leaders deported. Reconstituted in 1945 and dominated by Palestinian Arabs, it continued in various iterations until 1948, when, viewed as a threat to Jordan, [[Army of the Holy War|its army]] was forced to disband. There was unequivocal support for an Arab controlled Jerusalem (at that time the status quo).
Until the establishment of the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) in 1964, there was little in terms of an internationally recognised representation of the Palestinian Arabs. The Arab League usually took over the job, with the short-lived Egyptian-controlled [[All-Palestine Government]] based in Gaza having little sway, and [[Jordanian annexation of the West Bank|Jordan taking control of the West Bank with East Jerusalem]].
Until the Oslo Accords in 1993, and the [[Israel – Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition|Letters of Mutual Recognition]], the Palestinians,{{dubious|There is no such thing as "the Palestinians" in terms of a unified national will.|date=June 2019}} represented since 1964 by the PLO, had at all times rejected any partition of any part of the former British Mandate territory. However, while they had previously rejected the UN's internationalisation plan,<ref name="Tessler2009">{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=84ehDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA322 |title=A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Second Edition |author= Mark Tessler |date=24 March 2009 |publisher= Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-01346-0 |pages=322–323}}</ref> most of the Arab delegations at the [[Lausanne Conference of 1949]] accepted a permanent international regime (called [[Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|''corpus separatum'']]) under United Nations supervision as proposed in Resolutions 181 and 194.<ref>UN Committee on Jerusalem, [https://archive.today/20130705175611/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/39dceb7d1499881685256af50068f3ba ''Meeting between the Committee on Jerusalem and the delegations of the Arab states, 20 June 1949''] (doc.nr. A/AC.25/Com.Jer./SR.33)</ref> The Arabs vociferously objected to Israel moving to (West) Jerusalem its national institutions, namely the Knesset, the presidential, legislative, [[Israeli Supreme Court|judicial]] and administrative offices.
{{rquote|right|The fight over Jerusalem is existential, not because it is a magical city but because it was, and is, the center of our culture, national identity and memory.|Prominent Palestinian activist [[Sari Nusseibeh]], Once Upon A Country: A Palestinian Life<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/01/28/Mideast-impasse-raises-new-uprising-threat/85881264711632/|title=Mideast impasse raises new uprising threat|date=28 January 2010|accessdate=3 January 2023|work=UPI}}</ref>}}
The Palestinian leadership now claims the "1967 borders" (in effect the 1949 armistice lines) as the borders of the Palestinian territories, and includes East Jerusalem as part of these territories. Despite recognition of Israel (only from Fatah, not Hamas), and its support in 1949 of ''corpus separatum'', it had never conceded sovereignty of Jerusalem. In 1988, Jordan conceded all claims to the West Bank, including Jerusalem, other than the [[Jerusalem Islamic Waqf|Muslim holy places on the Temple Mount]], and recognized the PLO as the legal representatives of the Palestinian people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_periods9.html|title=Jordan – History – Disengagement from the West Bank|website=www.kinghussein.gov.jo|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>
The [[Palestinian National Authority]] views East Jerusalem as occupied Palestinian territory, in line with [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242|UNSC Resolution 242]]. The PNA claims all of East Jerusalem, including the [[Temple Mount]], as the capital of the [[State of Palestine]], and claims that West Jerusalem is also subject to final status negotiations, but is willing to consider alternative solutions, such as making Jerusalem an [[open city]]. In the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]'s [[Palestinian Declaration of Independence]] of 1988, Jerusalem is called the capital of the [[State of Palestine]]. In 2000 the [[Palestinian Authority]] passed a law designating the city as such, and in 2002 this law was ratified by Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]].<ref name=PalestinianPosition>[http://english.people.com.cn/200210/06/eng20021006_104530.shtml "Arafat Signs Law Making Jerusalem Palestinian Capital"], ''People's Daily'', published 6 October 2002; [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2302961.stm "Arafat names Jerusalem as capital"], BBC News, published 6 October 2002.</ref> The official position of the PNA is that Jerusalem should be an open city, with no physical partition and that Palestine would guarantee freedom of worship, access and the protection of sites of religious significance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minfo.gov.ps/permenant/English/Jerusalem/Pal_Official.htm |title=The Palestinian Official Position |access-date=10 February 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060212195415/http://www.minfo.gov.ps/permenant/English/Jerusalem/Pal_Official.htm |archive-date=12 February 2006 |publisher=Palestinian National Authority, Ministry of Information}}</ref> The status quo on the Temple Mount now is that tourists are allowed to visit, but not pray, on the Temple Mount, although this seems to be slowly changing.
===ICJ case — ''Palestine v. United States of America'' === In September 2018, the [[State of Palestine]] initiated an action in the [[International Court of Justice]], in the case ''Palestine v. United States of America'' (officially titled ''Relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem''), in which Palestine charges the U.S. with violating the [[Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations]] by moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, arguing the Convention requires that "the diplomatic mission of a sending State must be established on the territory of the receiving State." The Palestinian application argues that in international law Jerusalem cannot be considered to be the territory of the State of Israel because under [[General Assembly Resolution 181]] of 1947 (the Partition Plan) Jerusalem was to have been placed under international governance, and thus precludes considering Jerusalem to be under the sovereignty of any State.<ref name= Berman>Nathaniel Berman, '[http://opiniojuris.org/2020/08/10/jerusalem-before-the-international-courts-utopias-2020/ Jerusalem before the International Courts: Utopias 2020]'</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = International Court of Justice | title = Relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem (Palestine v. United States of America) | url = https://www.icj-cij.org/en/case/176 | access-date=17 January 2023}}</ref>
==United Nations== {{further| Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)}} The [[United Nations]] considers East Jerusalem to be part of [[Israeli-occupied territories]] or occupied [[occupied Palestinian territory|Palestinian territory]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Status of Jerusalem| url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpi/palestine/ch12.pdf|website=[[United Nations]] |access-date=7 January 2015}}</ref><ref name=RL2008>{{cite web |last=Lapidoth |first=Ruth| title=Jerusalem – Some Legal Issues |url=https://jerusaleminstitute.org.il/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PUB_lapidoth-jerusalem_eng.pdf |publisher=The [[Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies]] |date=2011 |access-date=11 December 2017 |pages=21–26}} Reprinted from: {{cite book|editor=Rüdiger Wolfrum|title=The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2011}}</ref> It envisions Jerusalem eventually becoming the capital of two states, [[Israel–Palestine relations|Israel and Palestine]].<ref>[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32762&Cr=jerusalem&Cr1 "Jerusalem must be capital of both Israel and Palestine, Ban says"]. 28 October 2009. UN News Centre.</ref> This is at odds with other General Assembly Resolutions, which promote an internationally administered Jerusalem.
[[1947 UN Partition Plan]] (Resolution 181(II)) provided for the full territorial internationalisation of Jerusalem: <blockquote>"The City of Jerusalem shall be established as a ''[[corpus separatum]]'' under a special international regime and shall be administered by the United Nations."</blockquote><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/res181.htm |title=United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 |date=29 November 1947 |url-status=dead |at=See "Part III. – City of Jerusalem" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029150108/http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/un/res181.htm |archive-date=29 October 2006}}</ref> The resolution was accepted by the Jewish leadership in Palestine, but rejected by the Arabs.<ref name=lapidoth>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Lapidoth |first=Ruth |author-link=Ruth Lapidoth |encyclopedia=Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law |title=Jerusalem |year=2013 |publisher=Oxford}}</ref> This position was restated after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War in [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194|Resolution 194]] of 1948 and in [[s:United Nations General Assembly Resolution 303|Resolution 303(IV)]] of 1949. According to a 1979 report prepared for and under the guidance of the [[Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People]], it would appear that the United Nations has maintained the principle that the legal status of Jerusalem is that of a ''corpus separatum''.<ref>[https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/651C804E6815FB28852575DF004B7C4C "The Status of Jerusalem, CEIRPP, DPR (1 January 1981)"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208020505/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/651C804E6815FB28852575DF004B7C4C |date=8 December 2012}} Section "Conclusions".</ref>
The [[United Nations General Assembly]] does not recognize Israel's proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which is, for example, reflected in the wording of General Assembly Resolution 63/30 of 2009 which states that "any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever, and calls upon Israel to cease all such illegal and unilateral measures."<ref name="GA63/30">{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/UN/unga63_30.pdf?OpenElement|title=Resolution adopted by the General Assembly – 63/30. Jerusalem|date=23 January 2009|publisher=United Nations|access-date=9 April 2011}}</ref>
Although the General Assembly cannot pass legally binding resolutions over international issues, the [[United Nations Security Council]], which has the authority to do so, has passed a total of six Security Council [[List of UN resolutions concerning Israel|resolutions on Israel]] on the matter, including [[UN Security Council Resolution 478|UNSC resolution 478]] which affirmed that the enactment of the 1980 [[Basic Laws of Israel|Basic]] [[Jerusalem Law]] declaring unified Jerusalem as Israel's "eternal and indivisible" capital, was a violation of international law. The resolution advised member states to withdraw their diplomatic representation from the city. The Security Council, as well as the UN in general, has consistently affirmed the position that East Jerusalem (but not west Jerusalem) is occupied Palestinian territory subject to the provisions of the [[Fourth Geneva Convention]]. The [[International Court of Justice]] in its 2004 Advisory opinion on the "Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory" described East Jerusalem as "occupied Palestinian territory".<ref name="RL2008"/>
Many UN member states formally follow the UN position that Jerusalem should have an [[International city|international status]].<ref name=Sharkansky>[[Ira Sharkansky]]. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jKdKSqe78DIC&pg=PA23 ''Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World's Agenda'']. [[Wayne State University Press]], 1996, page 23. {{ISBN|978-0-8143-2592-6}}.</ref> The [[European Union]] has also followed the UN's lead in this regard, declaring Jerusalem's status to be that of a ''[[Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|corpus separatum]]'', or an international city to be administered by the UN.<ref>{{cite news |title=EU re-ignites Jerusalem sovereignty row |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/295001.stm |publisher=BBC News |access-date=7 January 2015 |date=11 March 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://fmep.org/resource/special-report-israels-uncertain-victory-in-jerusalem/ |title=Special Report: Israel's Uncertain Victory in Jerusalem |website=Foundation for Middle East Peace |date=7 May 1999 |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
Nevertheless, and inconsistent with the status of ''corpus separatum'', the UN has designated East Jerusalem [[occupied Palestinian territory]].<ref name=UNOCHADec2009>{{cite web |url=http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2010_01_18_english.pdf|title=December Overview|publisher=[[UNOCHA]]|date=December 2009|access-date=3 January 2010|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100216063443/http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_the_humanitarian_monitor_2010_01_18_english.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2010}}</ref> China recognizes East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine,<ref name="chnrec">[http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/7592121.html China supports Palestinian UN bid (Xinhua, 8 September 2011)] "China recognizes Palestine as a country with east Jerusalem as its capital and possessing full sovereignty and independence, in accordance with borders agreed upon in 1967, according to Jiang"</ref> and the United States has recognised at least West Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 28 October 2009 that Jerusalem must be the capital of both Israel and Palestine.<ref>[https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=32762&Cr=jerusalem&Cr1 Jerusalem must be capital of both Israel and Palestine, Ban says], UN News Centre, (28 October 2009)</ref> The UN has never revoked resolutions 181 and 194, and maintains the official position that Jerusalem should be placed under a special international regime.<ref name="Resolution_66/18">UNGA, 30 November 2011, [https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/34BE727D1EED7D688525799500579D23 ''Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, 66/18. Jerusalem''] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130616063531/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/34BE727D1EED7D688525799500579D23 |date=16 June 2013 }} (doc.nr. A/RES/66/18 d.d. 26 January 2012).</ref>
==European Union== {{Main|Israel–European Union relations|Palestine–European Union relations}}
The [[European Union]] currently views the status of Jerusalem as that of a ''[[Corpus separatum (Jerusalem)|corpus separatum]]'' including both East and West Jerusalem as outlined in [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|United Nations Resolution 181]].<ref name=RL2008/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/295001.stm |title=EU re-ignites Jerusalem sovereignty row |publisher=BBC News |date=11 March 1999 |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref><ref>[http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/MFADocuments/Yearbook12/Pages/149%20Reaction%20by%20Foreign%20Minister%20Sharon%20on%20the%20EU.aspx "Reaction by Foreign Minister Sharon on the EU stand on Jerusalem"], Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 11 March 1999.</ref> In the interest of achieving a peaceful solution to the Arab–Israeli conflict, it believes a fair solution should be found regarding the issue of Jerusalem in the context of the two-state solution set out in the [[Road map for peace|Road Map]]. Taking into account the political and religious concerns of all parties involved, it envisions the city serving as the shared capital of [[Israel]] and [[Palestine]].<ref>Leigh Phillips (19 November 2009). [http://euobserver.com/9/29018 "EU rebukes Israel for Jerusalem settlement expansion"]. ''EUObserver''.<br />Quoting a statement by the European Union: "If there is to be genuine peace, a way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states."</ref><ref name=bbc2009-12-08>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8401913.stm |title=EU: Jerusalem should be capital of two states |publisher=BBC News |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=11 August 2010}}</ref>
The EU opposes measures which would prejudge the outcome of permanent status negotiations on Jerusalem, basing its policy on the principles set out in [[UN Security Council Resolution 242]], notably the impossibility of acquisition of territory by force. It will not recognise any changes to pre-1967 borders with regard to Jerusalem, unless agreed between the parties. It has also called for the reopening of Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem, in accordance with the Road Map, in particular [[Orient House]] and the Chamber of Commerce,<ref>EU, 3 August 2012, [http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/westbank/documents/news/20120803_local_statement_on_east_jerusalem_institutions__en.pdf ''Local EU statement on the continued closure of East Jerusalem institutions'']</ref> and has called on the Israeli government to "cease all discriminatory treatment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, especially concerning work permits, access to education and health services, building permits, house demolitions, taxation and expenditure."<ref>[http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/mepp/faq/index.htm#11, The EU & the Middle East Peace Process: FAQ], European Commission, retrieved 20 June 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223023100/http://ec.europa.eu/comm/external_relations/mepp/faq/index.htm#11 |date=23 February 2007 }}</ref>
{{Blockquote|The European Union set out its position in a statement of principles last December. A two-state solution with Israel and Palestine side by side in peace and security. A viable state of Palestine in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the [[Gaza Strip]], on the basis of the 1967 lines. A way must be found to resolve the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of both Israel and Palestine.|[[Catherine Ashton]], [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/opinion/22iht-edashton.html |title=Lessons From a Gaza Trip |first=Catherine |last=Ashton |date=21 March 2010 |access-date=6 December 2017 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>}}
==Organisation of Islamic Cooperation== On 13 December 2017, the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] (OIC), consisting of 57 primarily Muslim countries, declared East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine and invited "all countries to recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital."<ref>[http://www.france24.com/en/20171213-middle-east-muslim-leaders-urge-recognise-east-jerusalem-capital-palestine Muslim leaders urge world to recognise East Jerusalem as capital of Palestine (France 24, 2017-12-13)] "their final statement declared “East Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Palestine” and invited “all countries to recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital.”"</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/13/middleeast/oic-jerusalem-intl/index.html Muslim leaders call for recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital (CNN, 13 December 2017)] "Leaders from the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation recognized East Jerusalem as the occupied capital of a Palestinian state and called on the international community to do the same, according to the final communique from the group's emergency summit"</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/13/world/middleeast/muslims-jerusalem-palestinians.html Muslim Leaders Declare East Jerusalem the Palestinian Capital (New York Times, DEC. 13, 2017)] "Leaders and officials of Muslim nations declared East Jerusalem the Palestinian capital on Wednesday at a summit meeting in Istanbul, producing the strongest response yet to President Trump’s decision to recognize the city as Israel’s capital."</ref> The declaration makes no mention of Jerusalem as ''corpus separatum'', nor makes any reference to West Jerusalem.
==Location of foreign embassies== After Israel passed the [[Jerusalem Law]] in 1980, the UN Security Council adopted [[UN Security Council Resolution 478|Resolution 478]], which called upon UN member states to withdraw their diplomatic missions from the city. Thirteen countries—[[Bolivia]], [[Chile]], [[Colombia]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Dominican Republic]], [[Ecuador]], [[El Salvador]], [[Guatemala]], [[Haiti]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Panama]], [[Uruguay]] and [[Venezuela]]—moved their embassies from Jerusalem primarily to [[Tel Aviv]]. Costa Rica and El Salvador moved theirs back to Jerusalem in 1984. Costa Rica moved its embassy back to Tel Aviv in 2006 followed by El Salvador a few weeks later.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Costa-Rica-to-relocate-embassy-to-TA |title=Costa Rica to relocate embassy to TA |newspaper=Jerusalem Post |date=17 August 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200608/26/eng20060826_297044.html "El Salvador to move embassy in Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv"]. ''People's Daily''. 26 August 2006.</ref> No international embassy was located in Jerusalem again until 2018, although Bolivia had its embassy in [[Mevasseret Zion]], a suburb {{convert|10|km}} west of the city, until relations were severed in 2009<ref name="embassy">[http://www.science.co.il/Embassies.asp "Foreign Embassies in Israel"]. Israel Science and Technology Directory. Retrieved 23 January 2018.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091128044755/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN14457228 "Bolivia cuts diplomatic ties with Israel"]. ''Reuters''. 14 January 2009.</ref> for a decade,<ref>{{Cite web |title= Bolivia restores relations with Israel |url= https://www.france24.com/en/20191128-bolivia-restores-relations-with-israel-1 |website= France24 |date= 28 November 2019 |access-date= 11 April 2024 }}</ref> then again in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Bolivia cuts ties with Israel; other Latin American countries recall envoys |url= https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/1/bolivia-cuts-ties-with-israel-other-latin-american-countries-recall-envoys |website= Al Jazeera English |date= 1 November 2023 |access-date= 11 April 2024 }}</ref>
Various countries recognized Israel as a state in the 1940s and 1950s, without recognizing Israeli sovereignty over West Jerusalem. There is an international ''[[Sui generis#Legal applications|sui generis]]'' consular corps in Jerusalem. It is commonly referred to as the "Consular Corps of the Corpus Separatum". The states that have maintained consulates in Jerusalem say that it was part of Mandate Palestine, and in a ''de jure'' sense has not since become part of any other sovereignty.<ref name="Corpus Separatum"/> The Netherlands maintains an office in Jerusalem serving mainly Israeli citizens. Other foreign governments base consulate general offices in Jerusalem, including [[Greece]], [[Spain]], and the [[United Kingdom]]. The United States had a consulate general in Jerusalem, which was merged into the Jerusalem-based embassy in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-03-04 |title=US consulate general in Jerusalem merges with embassy |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47442145 |access-date=2024-04-09 |work=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> Since the [[president of Israel]] resides in Jerusalem and confirms the foreign diplomats, ambassadors need to travel to Jerusalem to submit letters of credentials upon being appointed.
The United States relocated its embassy to Israel to Jerusalem in 2018, as did Guatemala. Honduras followed in 2021. A number of countries have indicated that they could relocate their embassies to Jerusalem in the future, including Australia, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic and Serbia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/dominican-republic-to-weigh-relocating-embassy-to-jerusalem-647593|title=Dominican Republic to weigh relocating embassy to Jerusalem|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> In December 2020, the [[Czech Republic]] indicated that in 2021 it will open a Jerusalem branch office of the Czech Embassy in Tel Aviv. [[Hungary]] had previously opened an official diplomatic mission in Jerusalem.<ref name=jpost651045 >{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/pa-slams-czech-republics-decision-to-open-diplomatic-office-in-jerusalem-651045|title=PA slams Czech Republic's decision to open diplomatic office in Jerusalem|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> Kosovo committed to opening its embassy in Jerusalem when [[Israel-Kosovo relations|Israel and Kosovo]] established diplomatic relations in February 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Muslim-majority Kosovo forges ties with Israel; will open embassy in Jerusalem|website=The Times of Israel| date=2021-02-01 | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-kosovo-forge-official-ties-over-zoom-confirm-jerusalem-embassy-to-open/ | access-date=2021-02-02}}</ref> By late 2022, only the United States, Guatemala, Honduras and the partially-recognized state of Kosovo maintain embassies in Jerusalem – Paraguay reversed the 2018 relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem within months and the Honduran foreign ministry have stated that they are also considering relocating theirs back to Tel Aviv.<ref name="AP NEWS 2021">{{cite web | title=Honduras opens embassy in Jerusalem, 4th country to do so | website=AP NEWS | date=2021-06-24 | url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jerusalem-honduras-middle-east-religion-49d8f0a908d2a0bf16830071e2c6f5f0 | access-date=2022-10-18}}</ref><ref name="Reuters 2022">{{cite web | title=Honduras to consider returning Israeli embassy to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem | website=Reuters | date=2022-08-08 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/honduras-consider-returning-israeli-embassy-tel-aviv-jerusalem-2022-08-08/ | access-date=2022-10-18}}</ref> [[Fiji]] and [[Papua New Guinea]] have announced their intentions to open embassies in Jerusalem by the end of 2023,<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | url=https://www.icej.org/blog/icej-fiji-elated-as-government-commits-to-open-jerusalem-embassy/ | title=ICEJ-Fiji elated as government commits to open Jerusalem embassy | date=23 February 2023 }}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/papua-new-guinea-to-open-jerusalem-embassy-israel-announces/amp/ | title=Papua New Guinea to open Jerusalem embassy, Israel announces | the Times of Israel | website=[[The Times of Israel]] }}</ref> while Paraguay also announced its plans to reopen its embassy in Jerusalem in November 2023,<ref name="Paraguay2023">{{cite web | url=https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/pe%C3%B1a-anticipa-apertura-embajada-paraguaya-190440912.html | title=Peña anticipa que apertura de la embajada paraguaya en Jerusalén se daría en noviembre| trans-title=Peña anticipates that reopening of Paraguayan embassy in Jerusalem will take place in November |website=Yahoo Noticias | date=25 September 2023}}</ref> making it effective in December 2024.<ref name="Paraguay2024"/>
Palestinian officials have consistently condemned each such relocation and diplomatic offices in Jerusalem, saying that they constitute "a flagrant violation of international law and goes against the unified EU position on the legal status of Jerusalem."<ref name=jpost651045/>
===China=== The People's Republic of China (PRC) recognizes East Jerusalem as the capital of the [[State of Palestine]].<ref name="chnrec" /> In a 2016 speech to the [[Arab League]], [[Chinese Communist Party]] general secretary [[Xi Jinping]] said that "China firmly supports the Middle East peace process and supports the establishment of a State of Palestine enjoying full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital."<ref>{{cite web |author=Mohammed al-Sudairi |date=28 January 2016 |title=China's Stance on East Jerusalem |url=http://www.merip.org/china%E2%80%99s-stance-east-jerusalem |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171124053734/http://www.merip.org/china%E2%80%99s-stance-east-jerusalem |archive-date=24 November 2017 |access-date=6 December 2017 |website=[[Middle East Research and Information Project]]}}</ref> China announced that this position remains unchanged in the aftermath of the U.S. recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.<ref name="scmp">{{Cite web |date=6 December 2017 |title=Why is China worried about Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital? |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2123202/why-china-so-worried-about-us-recognising-jerusalem-israels |access-date=17 December 2017 |work=South China Morning Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=China's Position on the Recent Development of the Status of Jerusalem |url=http://my.china-embassy.org/eng/zgxw/t1519036.htm |access-date=2020-09-06 |website=my.china-embassy.org}}</ref>
===France=== The French Government notes that "It is up to the parties to come to a final and overall agreement with regard to the final status, which would put an end to the conflict. France believes that Jerusalem must become the capital of the two States."<ref name=":0" /> France does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which France considers an "occupied territory under the [[Fourth Geneva Convention]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=étrangères |first=Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires |title=Israel / Palestinian Territories – France condemns the expulsion of Mr Salah Hamouri (18 Dec. 2022) |url=https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/israel-palestinian-territories/news/2022/article/israel-palestinian-territories-france-condemns-the-expulsion-of-mr-salah |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs |language=en}}</ref>
===Russia=== {{Main|Israel–Russia relations|Palestine–Russia relations}}
On 6 April 2017 the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] issued a statement saying, "We reaffirm our commitment to the UN-approved principles for a Palestinian–Israeli settlement, which include the status of East Jerusalem as the capital of the future Palestinian state. At the same time, we must state that in this context we view West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."<ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Ministry statement regarding Palestinian-Israeli settlement |url=http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2717182 |publisher=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation |access-date=8 December 2017 |date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107194548/http://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/2717182 |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some commentators interpreted this as a Russian recognition of Israel's claim to West Jerusalem,<ref name=Russia>{{cite news |last1=Keinon |first1=Herb|title=JPost Exclusive: Moscow surprisingly says west Jerusalem is Israel's capital |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Jpost-Exclusive-Moscow-surprisingly-says-west-Jerusalem-is-Israels-capital-486336 |work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=7 December 2017 |date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vladimirov |first1=Nikita |title=Russia recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital |url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/327673-russia-recognizes-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital/ |work=The Hill |access-date=7 December 2017 |date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kontorovich |first1=Eugene |title=Russia Recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's Capital. Why Can't the U.S.? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/russia-recognizes-jerusalem-as-israels-capital-why-cant-the-u-s-1494795684 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=7 December 2017 |date=14 May 2017}}</ref> while others understood the statement as a Russian intention to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel's in the context of a peace deal with the Palestinians.<ref>[http://english.pnn.ps/2017/04/08/russia-could-acknowledge-west-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital/ "Russia could acknowledge West Jerusalem as Israeli Capital"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409195147/http://english.pnn.ps/2017/04/08/russia-could-acknowledge-west-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital/ |date=9 April 2017 }}. ''Palestine News Network''. 8 April 2017. "[T]he Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that if a peace agreement between Israeli and Palestinian people could be reached, Russia could acknowledge West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital."</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170407141838/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.782109 "Russia Says It Would Recognize West Jerusalem as Israeli Capital in Deal With Palestinians"]. ''Haaretz''. 8 April 2017. "In an unusual move, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday in which it said, for the first time, that in the event of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, West Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel."</ref> On 14 June 2018, Russia held, for the first time, its annual [[Russia Day]] reception in Jerusalem. Until then, the annual reception has been held in the Tel Aviv area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Russia-breaks-from-pack-holds-national-day-reception-in-Jerusalem-560020|title=Russia breaks from pack, holds national day reception in Jerusalem – Israel News – Jerusalem Post|website=www.jpost.com|date=14 June 2018 }}</ref> Although Russia has publicly recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it continues to locate its embassy in Tel Aviv.<ref name = RussEJ /> Prior to these events, in 2011 the Russian President [[Dmitry Medvedev]] stated that Russia had recognized the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital already in 1988, and that it had not changed its view.<ref name=rus88>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4015504,00.html Medvedev reaffirms Soviet recognition of Palestine (Ynet News, 18 January 2011)] "Russian president says Moscow has not changed its position since 1988 when it 'recognized independent Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem'"</ref>
In January 2011, reaffirming Russia's recognition of the [[State of Palestine]], President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia "supported and will support the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem."<ref name=RussEJ>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12212907 |title=Russia reaffirms recognition of Palestinian state |date=18 January 2011 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=8 December 2017}}</ref>
===United Kingdom=== {{Main|Israel–United Kingdom relations|Palestine–United Kingdom relations}}
The [[United Kingdom]] position on Jerusalem states that "Jerusalem was supposed to be a ‘corpus separatum’, or international city administered by the UN. But this was never set up: immediately after the UNGA resolution partitioning Palestine, Israel occupied West Jerusalem and Jordan occupied East Jerusalem (including the Old City). We recognised the de facto control of Israel and Jordan, but not sovereignty. In 1967, Israel occupied E Jerusalem, which we continue to consider is under illegal military occupation by Israel. Our [[Embassy of the United Kingdom, Tel Aviv|Embassy to Israel]] is in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem. In E Jerusalem we have a Consulate-General, with a Consul-General who is not accredited to any state: this is an expression of our view that no state has sovereignty over Jerusalem."<ref name="fco1">{{cite web |url=http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front%3Fpagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1057335917798 |title=The UK position on Jerusalem – A key issue in the Palestinian track, and a key concern to the whole Islamic world |website=[[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20030917110448/http://www.fco.gov.uk:80/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1057335917798&print=true |archive-date=17 September 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="fac2009-07-26">{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmfaff/261/26108.htm |title=Global Security: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories – Foreign Affairs Committee. Israel and British Government policy |date=26 July 2009 |publisher=www.parliament.uk |access-date=16 May 2010}}</ref>
The UK believes that the city's status has yet to be determined, and maintains that it should be settled in an overall agreement between the parties concerned, but considers that the city should not again be divided.<ref name="fco1" /> The Declaration of Principles and the Interim Agreement, signed by Israel and the PLO on 13 September 1993 and 28 September 1995 respectively, left the issue of the status of Jerusalem to be decided in the "permanent status" negotiations between the two parties.<ref name="fco1" />
===United States=== {{Main|United States recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel}}
{{see also|Israel–United States relations|Palestine–United States relations}} [[File:Greater Jerusalem May 2006 CIA remote-sensing map 3500px.jpg|thumb|Greater Jerusalem, May 2006. [[CIA]] [[remote sensing]] map showing refugee camps, fences, walls, and settlements.]] When Israel was founded, the position of the [[United States]] was that its recognition of Israel did not imply a particular view on the status of Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite news |last=Schmemann |first=Serge |date=2 March 1997 |title=A New Struggle For Jerusalem |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/02/weekinreview/a-new-struggle-for-jerusalem.html}}</ref> The U.S. voted for the UN Partition Plan in November 1947, which provided for the establishment of an international regime for the city, and [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194|Resolution 194]] in 1948, following the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. But the U.S. voted against [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 303|Resolution 303]] in 1949 which reaffirmed that Jerusalem be established a ''corpus separatum'' under a special international regime to be administered by the UN, because the U.S. regarded the plan as no longer feasible after both Israel and Jordan had established a political presence in the city.<ref name="crsMark">{{cite web |last=Mark |first=Clyde |title=Jerusalem: The U.S. Embassy and P.L. 104-45 |url=https://fas.org/man/crs/RS20339.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025211419/http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RS20339.pdf |archive-date=25 October 2012 |access-date=1 April 2011 |work=CRS Report for Congress |publisher=Congressional Research Service. The Library of Congress}}</ref> The U.S. position continues to be that final status of Jerusalem is to be resolved through negotiations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mozgovaya |first1=Natasha |last2=Ravid |first2=Barak |date=8 December 2009 |title=U.S.: Only Israel, Palestinians should decide Jerusalem's future |url=https://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-only-israel-palestinians-should-decide-jerusalem-s-future-1.2548 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123075335/http://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-only-israel-palestinians-should-decide-jerusalem-s-future-1.2548 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2010 |access-date=8 December 2017 |website=Haaretz}}</ref> On 8 December 2017, Secretary of State [[Rex Tillerson]] clarified that the president's statement "did not indicate any final status for Jerusalem" and "was very clear that the final status, including the borders, would be left to the two parties to negotiate and decide."<ref name="TillersonStatement">{{Cite news |last=Morello |first=Carol |date=8 December 2017 |title=U.S. Embassy's move to Jerusalem should take at least two years, Tillerson says |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/tillerson-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-should-take-at-least-two-years/2017/12/08/83ec13ac-7170-4058-9972-11d4a8e8cc18_story.html |access-date=9 December 2017}}</ref>
On 6 December 2017, then-U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. On 14 May 2018 the U.S. embassy was transferred from [[Embassy of the United States, Tel Aviv|Tel Aviv]] to [[Embassy of the United States, Jerusalem|Jerusalem]]. The U.S. reclassified as its embassy [[Consulate General of the United States, Jerusalem|its Jerusalem Consulate]], which had been a lot in the neighborhood of [[Talpiot]] leased in 1989 for 99 years by the Israeli government and relocated there in 2002.<ref>"Diplomatic construction", Jerusalem Post, published 1 December 2005.</ref> From 28 October 2020, for the first time, U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem will be allowed to list "Israel" as their place of birth on their U.S. passport, while retaining the option to list simply "Jerusalem" instead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Richman |first=Jackson |date=29 October 2020 |title=Report: US citizens born in Jerusalem to be allowed to list 'Israel' on passports |url=https://www.jns.org/report-jerusalem-israel-to-be-allowed-on-us-passports/ |website=JNS.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Israel |first=U.S. Mission |date=2020-10-30 |title=U.S. Embassy Jerusalem Issues First Passport Listing Place of Birth as "Israel" for Applicants Born in Jerusalem |url=https://il.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-jerusalem-issues-first-passport-listing-place-of-birth-as-israel-for-applicants-born-in-jerusalem/ |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=U.S. Embassy in Israel}}</ref>
The Biden Administration referred to Israeli residents of East Jerusalem as "[[Israeli settlement|settlers]]".<ref>{{Citation |title=West Bank |date=2022-12-21 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220183755/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/west-bank/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2022 |work=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en |access-date=2023-01-03}}</ref> When U.S. President [[Joe Biden]] visited Israel and Palestine in 2022, his delegation removed the Israeli flags from his vehicle upon entering East Jerusalem, in a move widely interpreted as signaling non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Biden visits east Jerusalem without Israeli flag on limousine |url=https://www.jpost.com/israeli-news/article-712204 |access-date=2023-01-03 |work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>
===Other G20 countries=== * {{flag|Argentina}}: The Argentine government considered Jerusalem as a city of special status until the administration of President [[Javier Milei]], a staunch supporter of the State of Israel. The issue of moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was one of Milei's promised foreign [[Political positions of Javier Milei|policy decisions]] during his [[Javier Milei 2023 presidential campaign|presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Javier Milei confirmó que quiere mudar la embajada de la Argentina en Israel a Jerusalén |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/javier-milei-confirmo-que-quiere-mudar-la-embajada-de-la-argentina-en-israel-a-jerusalen-nid23112023/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[La Nación]] |date=23 November 2023 |language=es |trans-title=Javier Milei confirmed that he wants to move Argentina's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.}}</ref> After his [[Inauguration of Javier Milei|inauguration]], Milei met with Israeli Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and reiterated his commitment to move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem.<ref name="castromanuela">{{cite news |last1=Castro |first1=Manuela |title=¿Por qué Milei quiere trasladar la embajada de Argentina en Israel a Jerusalén? |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2024/02/12/por-que-milei-quiere-trasladar-embajada-argentina-israel-jerusalen-orix |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[CNN en Español]] |date=12 February 2024 |language=es |trans-title=Why does Milei want to move Argentina's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem?}}</ref><ref name="sminkbbc">{{cite news |last1=Smink |first1=Veronica |title=Qué busca Javier Milei al profundizar los vínculos entre Argentina e Israel |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c3g3p20v9keo |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[BBC Mundo]] |date=8 February 2024 |language=es |trans-title=What is Javier Milei seeking by deepening ties between Argentina and Israel?}}</ref><ref name="batimes">{{cite news |title=Argentina's Milei plans new Israel trip to finalise Jerusalem Embassy transfer |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/argentinas-milei-plans-new-israel-trip-to-finalise-jerusalem-embassy-transfer.phtml |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=Buenos Aires Times |date=25 November 2025}}</ref> The outbreak of the [[Gaza war]] postponed Milei's plans and, in January 2026, it was reported that the government had paused its plans.<ref name="mendozaonlineembassy">{{cite news |last1=Runno |first1=Mauricio |title=Argentina, por qué el Gobierno frena cambio de embajada en Israel a Jerusalén |url=https://www.mdzol.com/politica/argentina-que-el-gobierno-frena-cambio-embajada-israel-jerusalen-n1426344 |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=Mendoza Online |date=12 January 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Argentina, why the Government is halting the change of embassy in Israel to Jerusalem}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Argentina to 'pause Jerusalem embassy move' over Falklands drilling dispute with Israel |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/argentina-pause-jerusalem-embassy-move-over-falklands-dispute |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[The New Arab]] |date=11 January 2026}}</ref> However, after the outbreak of the [[2026 Iran war]], Milei took [[Argentina in the 2026 Iran war|a strong position supporting]] Israel and the United States. Condemning [[Iran and state-sponsored terrorism|Iran's sponsor of terrorism]] and blaming the Iranian government for the [[1992 Buenos Aires Israeli embassy bombing]] and the [[AMIA bombing]],<ref name="batimesamia">{{cite news |title=Milei slams Iran on anniversary of Israeli Embassy bombing in Buenos Aires |url=https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/milei-slams-iran-on-anniversary-of-israeli-embassy-bombing-in-buenos-aires.phtml |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=Buenos Aires Times |date=17 March 2026}}</ref><ref name="iranchargedaffaires">{{cite news |last1=Lazzaro Blasbalg |first1=Cecilia |title=Argentina declares Iranian envoy persona non grata, gives him 48 hours to leave |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/argentina-declares-iranian-envoy-persona-non-grata-gives-him-48-hours-to-leave/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |date=2 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="infobaereiterates">{{cite news |title=Milei reiteró su respaldo a Israel en la guerra frente a Irán y cuestionó a la comunidad internacional: “Son cobardes” |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2026/04/16/milei-reitero-su-respaldo-a-israel-en-la-guerra-frente-a-iran-y-cuestiono-a-la-comunidad-internacional-son-cobardes/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[Infobae]] |date=16 April 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Milei reiterated his support for Israel in the war against Iran and questioned the international community: “They are cowards.”}}</ref> Milei reactivated his plans to move the embassy, confirming on 16 April 2026 in an interview with [[Israeli media]] that he intended to officialize the decision during [[2026 state visit by Javier Milei to Israel|his third visit]] to Israel in April 2026.<ref name="argclarin">{{cite news |title=Milei ratificó que trasladará la embajada argentina a Jerusalén |url=https://www.clarin.com/videos/milei-ratifico-trasladara-embajada-argentina-jerusalen_3_b6xzmgokBR.html |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[Clarín (Argentine newspaper)|Clarín]] |date=16 April 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Milei confirmed that he will move the Argentine embassy to Jerusalem}}</ref><ref name="pag12arg">{{cite news |last1=Molina |first1=Melisa |title=Milei viajará a Israel en medio de la guerra |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/2026/04/16/milei-viajara-a-israel-en-medio-de-la-guerra-2/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[Página 12]] |date=16 April 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Milei will travel to Israel in the midst of the war}}</ref><ref name="galliganiinfobae">{{cite news |last1=Galligani |first1=Federico |title=Javier Milei planea anunciar el traslado de la embajada a Jerusalén durante su nuevo viaje a Israel |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2026/04/13/javier-milei-planea-anunciar-el-traslado-de-la-embajada-a-jerusalen-durante-su-nuevo-viaje-a-israel/ |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[Infobae]] |date=13 April 2026 |language=es |trans-title=Javier Milei plans to announce the relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem during his upcoming trip to Israel.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Eichner |first1=Itamar |title=Argentina’s Milei to attend Israel Independence Day even if war resumes; Trump also expected |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1tze00xh11g |access-date=17 April 2026 |work=[[Ynet]] |date=8 April 2026}}</ref> * {{flag|Australia}}: On 15 December 2018 Prime Minister [[Scott Morrison]] announced that Australia recognised [[West Jerusalem]] as the capital of Israel, while East Jerusalem should be the capital of the [[State of Palestine]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-15 |title=Australia recognises west Jerusalem as capital of Israel |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20181215-australia-recognises-west-jerusalem-capital-israel-palestinians-morrison-trump |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> However, Morrison also announced that Australia would not relocate its embassy to West Jerusalem until after the final status of Jerusalem was resolved.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/14/australian-government-to-recognise-jerusalem-as-israels-capital|title=Australia recognises West Jerusalem as Israel's capital but holds back on embassy move|first=Melissa|last=Davey|newspaper=The Observer |date=15 December 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-15/government-recognises-west-jerusalem-but-keeps-tel-aviv-embassy/10614226|title=Government recognises West Jerusalem as Israel's capital, embassy to stay put|first=Jade|last=Macmillan|date=15 December 2018|website=ABC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/australia-recognises-west-jerusalem-as-capital-of-israel-11581432|title=Australia recognises West Jerusalem as capital of Israel|publisher=Sky News|access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref> On 17 October 2022, Australia's foreign minister confirmed its reversal of the previous governments recognition of West Jerusalem as Israel's capital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/oct/17/australia-quietly-drops-recognition-of-west-jerusalem-as-capital-of-israel|title=Australia quietly drops recognition of West Jerusalem as capital of Israel|date=17 October 2022|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-drops-recognition-of-west-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital-20221017-p5bqic.html|title=Australia drops recognition of west Jerusalem as Israeli capital|first=Matthew|last=Knott|date=17 October 2022|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2022/10/18/1129609399/australia-will-end-recognition-of-jerusalem-as-israel-capital|title=Australia says it will end its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital|agency=Associated Press|date=18 October 2022|website=NPR}}</ref> The decision was harshly criticised by [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Opposition Leader]] [[Peter Dutton]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/foreign-affairs-blunder-dutton-criticises-wongs-significant-mistake-regarding-australias-position-on-israels-capital/news-story/b3d3a1a3b412f9ebbdd5ed70dd47a054?amp | title=Dutton lashes Wong's 'significant mistake' | date=19 October 2022 }}</ref> However, Australia still [[Australia-Israel relations|maintains close relations with Israel]] and currently has no formal relations with Palestine. * {{flag|Brazil}}: Brazil recognizes East Jerusalem as the capital of the [[State of Palestine]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topônimos e gentílicos – Manual de Redação – FUNAG |url=http://funag.gov.br/manual/index.php?title=Top%C3%B4nimos_e_gent%C3%ADlicos |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=funag.gov.br}}</ref> with which it maintains full diplomatic relations, whereas the Brazilian embassy to Israel is based in Tel Aviv. * {{flag|Canada}}: According to [[Global Affairs Canada]], "Canada considers the status of Jerusalem can be resolved only as part of a general settlement of the Palestinian–Israeli dispute. Canada does not recognize Israel's unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem."<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Policy on Key Issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict |url=http://www.international.gc.ca/name-anmo/peace_process-processus_paix/canadian_policy-politique_canadienne.aspx?lang=eng |website=Global Affairs Canada |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=6 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218143423/http://www.international.gc.ca/name-anmo/peace_process-processus_paix/canadian_policy-politique_canadienne.aspx?lang=eng |archive-date=18 February 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the fact sheet on Israel displayed on the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department's website, the "Capital" field states that "While Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital, Canada believes that the final status of the city needs to be negotiated between the Israelis and Palestinians. At present, Canada maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/israel/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/fs_israel_fd.aspx?lang=eng|title=Canada's International Gateway|first1=Canada's International|last1=Gateway|first2=Le portail international du|last2=Canada|date=26 June 2013|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=14 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014200935/http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/israel/bilateral_relations_bilaterales/fs_israel_fd.aspx?lang=eng|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flag|Germany}}: According to Germany's Foreign Minister [[Sigmar Gabriel]], Germany is committed to a two-state solution and believes that the final status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aussenpolitik/regionaleschwerpunkte/nahermittlererosten/-/1003376 |title=Nach Trumps Jerusalem-Entscheidung: Deutschland steht zur Zwei-Staaten-Lösung |website=Auswärtiges Amt |date=7 December 2017 |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref> * {{flag|Italy}}: "Endorsing the stance of the European Union in this regard, Italy does not recognise the legitimacy of any border changes that are not agreed between the parties. The question of Jerusalem is extremely sensitive, being the home to the Holy Places belonging to the three great monotheistic religions. To resolve this issue it will be necessary for the parties to reach a difficult, but possible, agreement to safeguard the special character of the city and meet the expectations of both peoples."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Sala_Stampa/ArchivioNotizie/Interviste/2008/07/20080710_Frattini_AlQuds|title=Errore|website=www.esteri.it|access-date=6 December 2017|archive-date=16 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616053143/http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Sala_Stampa/ArchivioNotizie/Interviste/2008/07/20080710_Frattini_AlQuds|url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flag|Japan}}: In a 1980 statement to the United Nations, Japan criticized Israel's [[Jerusalem Law|proclamation of Jerusalem as its united capital]]: "Japan cannot recognize such a unilateral change to the legal status of an occupied territory, which is in total violation of the relevant United Nations resolutions". Japan later reiterated its position in a 2001 UN report: "Japan believes that issues relating to Jerusalem should be resolved through the permanent status negotiations between the parties concerned, and until such a solution is achieved both parties should refrain from taking any unilateral action relating to the situation in Jerusalem."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/5ba47a5c6cef541b802563e000493b8c/30c804b5cd016f3f85256b11006ad90e?OpenDocument |title=UN Document A/56/480 of 17 October 2001 |publisher=United Nations |access-date=10 December 2017 |archive-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211160836/https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/5ba47a5c6cef541b802563e000493b8c/30c804b5cd016f3f85256b11006ad90e?OpenDocument |url-status=dead }}</ref> * {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}: Saudi Arabia recognizes the [[State of Palestine]], with East Jerusalem as its capital. Saudi Arabia does not formally recognize the State of Israel. The [[House of Saud|Saudi monarchy]] has not taken an official position on the fate of West Jerusalem's status.<ref>{{cite news|last=Agencies and TOI staff|title=Saudi king: Palestinians have right to East Jerusalem as capital|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-king-palestinians-have-right-to-east-jerusalem-as-capital/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> Saudi Arabia expressed disappointment in the United States's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. * {{flag|South Korea}}: South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduces Israel's capital as Jerusalem, but mentions that there is controversy over its status. However, the South Korean Embassy in Israel is in [[Herzliya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mofa.go.kr/www/nation/m_3458/view.do?seq=194|title=이스라엘 – 국가/지역 검색 – 외교부|language=ko|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/il-en/index.do|title=Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the State of Israel|website=Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the State of Israel|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> * {{flag|Turkey}}: On 17 December 2017, Turkey's President [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] said "the day is close when officially" his nation will open an embassy to the [[State of Palestine]] in East Jerusalem.<ref>Mallory Shelbourne (17 December 2017). [https://thehill.com/policy/international/middle-east-north-africa/365302-turkey-will-open-embassy-in-east-jerusalem/ "Turkey will open embassy in east Jerusalem: Erdoğan"]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved 17 December 2017.</ref> This statement came several days after Erdoğan had called for worldwide recognition of East Jerusalem as the occupied capital of a Palestinian state at [[Sixth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference|a summit]] of Muslim countries convened in response to the U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-israel-turkey/erdogan-says-turkey-aims-to-open-embassy-in-east-jerusalem-idUSKBN1EB0H7 "Erdogan says Turkey aims to open embassy in East Jerusalem"]. 17 December 2017. ''Reuters''. Retrieved 17 December 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/13/middleeast/oic-jerusalem-intl/index.html|title=Muslim leaders call for recognition of East Jerusalem as Palestinian capital|last1=Sariyuce|first1=Isil|last2=Damon|first2=Arwa|last3=Qiblawi|first3=Tamara|date=13 December 2017|publisher=CNN}}</ref>
===Other countries=== * {{flag|Chile}}: The Chilean government considers Jerusalem to be a city with special status, whose final sovereignty must be decided by both Israel and Palestine. It also considers Israel's occupation and control over East Jerusalem illegal.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.minrel.gob.cl/comunicado-de-prensa/minrel/2017-12-06/195229.html |title=Chile manifiesta preocupación por decisión de Estados Unidos de reconocer a Jerusalén como capital de Israel |website=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chile)|Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Chile]] |date=6 December 2017|language=es |access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> Chile maintains its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, while its representative office to the State of Palestine is located in [[Ramallah]]. * {{flag|Republic of China}} (Taiwan): According to a 7 December 2017 announcement by Taiwan's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] (MOFA), Taiwan considers Jerusalem to be the capital of Israel, but has no plans of moving [[Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office|its representative office]] to the city in the wake of Donald Trump's formal recognition of it as Israel's capital.<ref>{{cite news |title=No plans to move office to Jerusalem, MOFA official says |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/12/08/2003683627 |access-date=8 December 2017 |work=[[Taipei Times]] |date=8 December 2017}}</ref> Although Jerusalem is listed as the capital of Israel on MOFA's website, the ministry notes that its status as such "has not been widely recognized by the international community" and remains highly controversial.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=7F220D7E656BE749&n=8BE86319074BA343&sms=A76B7230ADF29736&s=5FFD3F069D988527 |title=State of Israel – West Asia – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) 中華民國外交部 – 全球資訊網英文網 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171208202218/https://www.mofa.gov.tw/en/CountryInfoEn.aspx?CASN=7F220D7E656BE749&n=8BE86319074BA343&sms=A76B7230ADF29736&s=5FFD3F069D988527 |archive-date=8 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * {{flag|Czech Republic}}: In May 2017, the [[Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic|Chamber of Deputies]] of the [[Parliament of the Czech Republic|Czech Parliament]] rejected a [[UNESCO]] resolution that criticized Israel for its excavations in East Jerusalem. The Chamber declared that the Czech government "should advocate a position respecting Jerusalem as the Israeli capital city" and called on the government to withhold its annual funding of UNESCO.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/05/24/czech-parliament-denies-unesco-resolution-jerusalem |title=Czech parliament denies UNESCO resolution on Jerusalem |website=Prague Daily Monitor |language=en |date=24 May 2017 |access-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> On 6 December 2017, following the recognition statement by the United States, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic)|Czech Foreign Ministry]] acknowledged that Jerusalem is "in practice the capital of Israel in the borders of the demarcation line from 1967", but said the Czech government, in line the positions of other EU member states, considers the city to be the future capital of both Israel and Palestine. The Ministry also said it would consider moving the Czech embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem "only based on results of negotiations with key partners in the region and in the world."<ref>[https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/issues_and_press/archive/statements/x2017/x2017_12_06_mfa_statement_jerusalem.html "Position of MFA to Issue of Jerusalem"]. ''Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic''. [https://web.archive.org/web/20180119194144/https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/en/issues_and_press/archive/statements/x2017/x2017_12_06_mfa_statement_jerusalem.html Archived] from the original on 19 January 2018.</ref> In May 2018, Czech Republic reopened its honorary consulate in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-surprise-move-slovakia-says-cultural-mission-to-open-in-jerusalem/|title=In 'surprise' move, Slovakia says cultural mission to open in Jerusalem|first=Alexander|last=Fulbright|date=4 July 2018|website=Times of Israel|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> On 11 March 2021, the Czech Republic opened a branch of its embassy in Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/czech-republic-opens-de-facto-embassy-to-israel-in-west-jerusalem-661699|title = Czech Republic opens de facto embassy to Israel in west Jerusalem| date=11 March 2021 }}</ref> * {{flag|Denmark}}: "Israel has declared Jerusalem to be its capital. Due to the conflict and unclear situation concerning the city's status, foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambtelaviv.um.dk/en/menu/commercialservices/marketopportunities/countrybackground/countryfacts|title=Israel har erklæret Jerusalem for sin hovedstad (ca. 900.000 indbyggere). På grund af konflikten og den uafklarede situation vedrørende byens status opretholdes udenlandske ambassader i Tel Aviv.|access-date=6 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930155246/http://www.ambtelaviv.um.dk/en/menu/commercialservices/marketopportunities/countrybackground/countryfacts|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> * {{flag|Fiji}}: In December 2022, following negotiations between three political parties (the [[People's Alliance (Fiji)|People's Alliance]], the [[National Federation Party]] and [[Social Democratic Liberal Party|SODELPA]]) seeking to form a [[coalition government]] following the [[2022 Fijian general election|2022 election]], it was agreed upon that Fiji would open an embassy in Jerusalem, which was a condition for SODELPA joining the coalition.<ref name="auto1"/> The Fijian government opened its embassy in Jerusalem on 17 September 2025.<ref name=":1" /> * {{flag|Finland}}: The Finnish embassy to Israel is in Tel Aviv; Finland refers to East Jerusalem as part of the "[[Israeli-occupied territories|occupied]] [[Palestinian territories|Palestinian territory]]", and it understands that East Jerusalem "will be the capital" of the Palestinian state.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finlandabroad.fi/documents/35732/0/Palestiina_Country_Strategy+%283%29.pdf/5ed2f5c1-6ff9-4d6a-7b48-b075149a89ea?t=1628839968597|title=Finland's country strategy for Palestine – 2021–2024}}</ref> * {{flag|Guatemala}}: On 16 May 2018, Guatemala reopened its embassy in Jerusalem, the second country to do so.<ref>[http://time.com/5078997/guatemala-israel-embassy-jerusalem/ "Guatemala Says it Will Relocate its Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225045910/http://time.com/5078997/guatemala-israel-embassy-jerusalem/ |date=25 December 2017 }}, ''Time'', 25 December 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Guatemalan-president-arrives-to-reopen-embassy-in-Jerusalem-556540 "Guatemalan president arrives to reopen embassy in Jerusalem"]. ''The Jerusalem Post''. 16 May 2018.</ref> * {{flag|Honduras}}: On 24 June 2021, Honduras opened its embassy in Jerusalem, the third country to do so.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jerusalem-honduras-middle-east-religion-49d8f0a908d2a0bf16830071e2c6f5f0|title=Honduras opens embassy in Jerusalem, 4th country to do so|website=Associated Press; APnews.com|date=24 June 2021}}</ref> * {{flag|Iran}}: On 27 December 2017, the Iranian parliament voted in favor of a bill recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine in response to the [[United States recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital|United States decision to recognize the city]] as Israel's capital.<ref>Jack Moore (27 December 2017). "[http://www.newsweek.com/iran-recognizes-jerusalem-capital-city-palestinians-response-trump-declaration-760356 Iran Recognizes Jerusalem as Palestinian Capital City in Response to Trump Declaration]". ''Newsweek''.</ref><ref>[http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/iran-assembly-recognizes-jerusalem-as-palestine-capital/1016460 "Iran assembly recognizes Jerusalem as Palestine capital"], ''Anadolu Agency'', 27 December 2017.</ref> * {{flag|Moldova}}: In December 2018, following his [[state visit]] to [[Israel]], Moldovan President [[Igor Dodon]] said that he and his administration are considering the possibility of moving the Moldovan embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to Jerusalem,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/moldova-president-said-to-very-seriously-consider-moving-embassy-to-jerusalem/|title=Moldova president said to 'very seriously consider' moving embassy to Jerusalem|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> probably in the hope to win support from the U.S. for his embattled government.<ref name="blink"/> In June 2019, Prime Minister [[Pavel Filip]] announced that the decision to move of the Moldovan embassy to Jerusalem has now been taken by his government-one that has been described as "lame-duck" due to a constitutional crisis, with a second, counter-government in place that is opposed to the move, and which is recognised by Russia, the U.S. and the EU.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinians-rip-moldova-for-jerusalem-embassy-move-announcement/|title=Palestinians rip Moldova for Jerusalem embassy move announcement|website=[[The Times of Israel]] |issn=0040-7909}}</ref><ref name="blink">{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/why-israel-didnt-blink-when-moldova-vowed-to-move-its-embassy/|title=Why Israel didn't celebrate when Moldova vowed to move its embassy from Tel Aviv|first=Raphael|last=Ahren|website=[[The Times of Israel]] |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> For this reason, the announcement was flatly ignored by the Israeli government.<ref name="blink"/> The Filip government has also adopted the decision to sell to the U.S. the plot of land needed for the construction of the new American embassy in Jerusalem.<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Filip-Government-approves-transfer-of-Moldovan-Embassy-to-Jerusalem-592168 Moldova's Filip Government Announces Transfer of Embassy to Jerusalem], by [[Jerusalem Post]] Staff, [[Reuters]], 12 June 2019</ref> * {{flag|Nauru}}: On 29 August 2019, Nauru officially recognized all of Jerusalem as the state capital of Israel. The island nation does not maintain an embassy in Israel, although it does have an honorary consulate in [[Rosh HaAyin]].<ref>{{cite news|last=JTA and TOI staff|title=Nauru, world's 'least-visited country,' recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/republic-of-nauru-recognizes-jerusalem-as-capital-of-israel/|access-date=2020-09-06|website=[[The Times of Israel]]|language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> * {{flag|Netherlands}}: Following [[2023 Dutch general election|a general election]], a new [[governing coalition]] agreed in May 2024 "to investigate when a move of the embassy to Jerusalem [...] could take place."<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://nos.nl/collectie/13962/artikel/2520651-dit-zijn-de-belangrijke-plannen-en-voornemens-uit-het-coalitieakkoord |date = 16 May 2024 |access-date = 17 May 2024 |language = nl |website = [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] |title = Dit zijn de belangrijke plannen en voornemens uit het coalitieakkoord |trans-title = These are the most important plans and intentions in the coalition agreement }}</ref> * {{flag|Norway}}: In 2010, the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Norwegian Foreign Ministry]] stated "Norway considers the Israeli presence in East Jerusalem to be in violation of international law, as does the entire international community."<ref>{{cite web |title=Norway concerned over situation in East Jerusalem |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/press/News/2010/east_jerusalem.html?id=591172 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs |date=18 January 2010 |website=regjeringen.no |access-date=6 December 2017}}</ref> * {{flag|Oman}}: Oman does not recognize the State of Israel, and has stated that it will refuse to normalize relations with Israel until a sovereign and independent [[State of Palestine|Palestinian state]] is established. As such, the country claims united Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine and does not have an embassy in Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211007-israel-claims-oman-could-be-next-to-normalise-ties/|title=Israel claims Oman could be next to normalise ties|date=7 October 2021}}</ref> * {{flag|Pakistan}}: Pakistan has refused to recognize Israel until an "adequate and fair" independent sovereign state for the Palestinians is established, specifically the [[State of Palestine]] with its [[Green Line (Israel)|pre-1967 borders]] and united Jerusalem as its capital.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Siddiqui|first=Naveed|date=2020-01-29|title=Pakistan backs Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders, Jerusalem as capital|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1531249|access-date=2020-09-06|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}</ref> * {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}: Papua New Guinea opened its embassy in Jerusalem on September 5, 2023,<ref name="png-embassy-opened">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Dan |title=Papua New Guinea opens embassy in Jerusalem |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/papua-new-guinea-opens-embassy-jerusalem-2023-09-05/ |access-date=November 4, 2023 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=September 5, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> after announcing plans to do so earlier in the year.<ref name="auto"/> * {{flag|Paraguay}}: Paraguay moved its embassy to Jerusalem in May 2018, but following a change in government, on 6 September 2018, Paraguay announced that its embassy would be relocated to Tel Aviv.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45423581|title=Paraguay and Israel in spat over embassy|publisher=BBC News|date=5 September 2018}}</ref> This move was due to President [[Mario Abdo Benítez]]'s disagreement over the embassy relocation.<ref name="BBC"/> According to President [[Santiago Peña]] in September 2023, Paraguay currently plans to relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem for a second time on November of that year.<ref name="Paraguay2023" /> The embassy was effectively relocated to Jerusalem in December 2024.<ref name="Paraguay2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/knesset-speaker-with-jerusalem-embassy-paraguay-chose-principles-over-popularity/|title=Knesset speaker: With Jerusalem embassy, Paraguay 'chose principles over popularity'|last=Sokol|first=Sam|date=11 December 2024|access-date=11 December 2024|work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> * {{flag|Philippines}}: On 6 December 2017, following the recognition statement by the United States, President [[Rodrigo Duterte]] expressed interest in relocating the embassy of the Philippines from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem<ref>{{cite news |title=Philippines and Czech Republic consider moving embassies to Jerusalem after Trump announcement, report |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/philippines-and-czech-republic-consider-moving-embassies-to-jerusalem-after-trump-announcement-report-1.682171 |access-date=7 December 2017 |work=The National |date=7 December 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and reportedly contacted the Foreign Ministry of Israel to discuss the plans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Additional nations said to consider moving embassies to Jerusalem |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/additional-nations-said-to-consider-moving-embassies-to-jerusalem/ |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=7 December 2017 |date=6 December 2017}}</ref> However, the Philippines' [[Department of Foreign Affairs (Philippines)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] later mentioned that it does not support Trump's statement to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and expressed its support for a two-state solution.<ref>Dona Z. Pazzibugan (13 December 2017). [http://globalnation.inquirer.net/163032/breaking-news-donald-trump-philippines-jerusalem-israel-palestine-united-nations-dfa-tel-aviv-jewish-state "PH thumbs down Trump move declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital"]. ''Philippine Daily Inquirer''.</ref> * {{flag|Romania}}: In April 2018, Prime Minister [[Viorica Dăncilă]] announced that the [[Government of Romania|Government]] has adopted a memorandum regarding the initiation of procedures to relocate the Romanian embassy from [[Tel Aviv]] to Jerusalem.<ref name="mutare">{{cite web |url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/reactia-presedintelui-dupa-anuntul-privind-mutarea-ambasadei-la-ierusalim-incalca-dreptul-international.html |title=Scandal privind mutarea ambasadei din Israel. Președinția acuză premierul că a încălcat Constituția |work=Știrile Pro TV |date=20 April 2018 |language=ro}}</ref> President [[Klaus Iohannis]], who had not been informed about this decision, accused the Premier of violating the Constitution, while emphasizing "the need for a just and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by implementing the [[two-state solution]]."<ref name="mutare" /> * {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}: "St Vincent and the Grenadines strongly urges the United States of America to acknowledge that any unilateral declaration on its part regarding the status of Jerusalem will not in any way advance the cause of a just, peaceful and lasting solution to the dispute between the peoples of Israel and Palestine".<ref name="SaintVincent">{{cite news |title=St Vincent and the Grenadines against US move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital |url=http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/107607/st-vincent-grenadines-us-recognise-jerusalem-israel-capital |work=NationNews Barbados|date=6 December 2017 |access-date=6 December 2017 }}</ref> * {{flag|Serbia}}: On 4 September 2020, following a breakthrough [[United States|U.S.]]-led [[Kosovo–Serbia relations|agreement with Kosovo]] (and Israel), Serbia agreed to recognize united Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and relocate its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem by June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Netanyahu says Serbia will move its embassy to Jerusalem|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/netnayahu-serbia-move-embassy-jerusalem-200904175801075.html|access-date=2020-09-06|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> On 9 September 2020, [[The Jerusalem Post]] quoted an unnamed source from the [[President of Serbia|Serbian president]]'s office who stated that Serbia would not move its embassy to Jerusalem as it pledged to do by signing the White House Agreement if [[Israel]] recognizes [[Kosovo]] as an independent state.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Serbia won't move embassy if Israel recognizes Kosovo|url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/serbia-wont-move-embassy-if-israel-recognizes-kosovo-641600|access-date=2020-09-09|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref> * {{flag|Singapore}}: In a 7 December 2017 statement, Singapore's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Singapore)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] reaffirmed the country's support for a two-state solution where the final status of Jerusalem would be "decided through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/future-status-of-jerusalem-should-be-decided-through-direct-negotiations-mfa |title=Future status of Jerusalem should be decided through direct negotiations: MFA |work=[[The Straits Times]] |date=7 December 2017}}</ref> * {{flag|Slovakia}}: "Slovakia is on its way to relocating its embassy to Jerusalem," the head of the Slovak National Council Andrej Danko said on 4 July 2018 in a meeting with the president of Israel. A date for the relocation has not been provided, but Slovakia will first open an honorary consulate in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/slovakia-declares-it-will-move-its-embassy-to-jerusalem/|title=Slovakia declares it will move its embassy to Jerusalem|first=Arieloch|last=Kahana|date=4 July 2018|website=Jewish News Syndicate|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> * {{flag|Somaliland}}: On 19 May 2026, a Somaliland government official confirmed that the country will open an embassy in Jerusalem to strengthen ties with Israel.<ref name="somaliland2026"/> In response, Israel, which is [[International recognition of Somaliland|the only country to date to recognize Somaliland's independence]], will reciprocate by opening an embassy in [[Hargeisa]].<ref name="somaliland2026">{{cite news |title=Somaliland says it will open an embassy in Jerusalem, Israel to reciprocate |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/somaliland-says-it-will-open-an-embassy-jerusalem-israel-reciprocate-2026-05-19/ |access-date=20 May 2026 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=19 May 2026}}</ref> * {{flag|Suriname}}: [[Foreign relations of Suriname|Surinamese Foreign Minister]] [[Albert Ramdin]] announced in 2022 that Suriname intends to open an embassy in Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berman |first=Lazar |title=Suriname to open an embassy in Jerusalem in the near future |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/suriname-to-open-an-embassy-in-jerusalem-in-the-near-future/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> The status of this decision was shortly after contradicted in parliament by Vice President [[Ronnie Brunswijk]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bee steunt Mohab-Ali: Er komt geen ambassade in Jeruzalem |url=https://www.starnieuws.com/index.php/welcome/index/nieuwsitem/70391 |access-date=2022-05-31 |website=www.starnieuws.com}}</ref> * {{flag|Sweden}}: "Sweden, like other states, does not recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, which is why the embassy is in Tel Aviv."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regeringen.se/404/|title=Sidan kan inte hittas|first=Regeringen och|last=Regeringskansliet|date=1 May 2015|website=Regeringskansliet|access-date=6 December 2017}}{{Dead link|date=December 2017}}</ref> * {{flag|Vanuatu}}: The Republic of Vanuatu recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in June 2017. Vanuatu President [[Baldwin Lonsdale]] issued the recognition in response to a controversial [[UNESCO]] resolution passed in October 2016 that, according to the Israeli government,<ref>Peter Beaumont (26 October 2016). [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/unesco-adopts-controversial-resolution-on-jerusalem-holy-sites-israel "Unesco adopts controversial resolution on Jerusalem holy sites"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 10 December 2017.</ref> downplays Jewish connection to the [[Temple Mount]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=42819 |title=Island nation Vanuatu recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital |work=Israel Hayom |date=1 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208231539/http://www.israelhayom.com/2017/07/10/island-nation-vanuatu-recognizes-jerusalem-as-israels-capital/ |archive-date=8 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> * {{flag|Venezuela}}: In 2018, the Venezuelan government affirmed the support for Palestinian cause by declaring its stance to recognize Jerusalem as the eternal capital of Palestine after the U.S. embassy move to Jerusalem, which it called as an "extremist decision" that lacks legal validity and violates international law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/venezuela-and-the-nam-express-their-absolute-support-for-the-palestinian-cause/|title=Venezuela and the NAM express their absolute support for the Palestinian cause|date=18 December 2017|access-date=3 April 2019|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331131225/https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/venezuela-and-the-nam-express-their-absolute-support-for-the-palestinian-cause/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabamerica.com/venezuela-recognizes-jerusalem-as-the-capital-of-palestine-as-trump-accelerates-u-s-embassy-move-to-jerusalem/|title=Venezuela Recognizes Jerusalem as the Capital of Palestine as Trump Accelerates U.S. Embassy Move|date=19 January 2018|website=Arab America}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=BOfpY7a96127053000aBOfpY7|title=Venezuela recognizes Jerusalem as eternal capital of State of Palestine|website=english.wafa.ps}}</ref> During the [[Venezuelan presidential crisis]], Interim President [[Juan Guaidó]] vowed to place his country's embassy in Jerusalem if he had assumed power from [[Nicolas Maduro]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/1595933989-under-guaido-venezuela-to-open-embassy-in-jerusalem-report | title=I24NEWS }}</ref>
==Islamic holy sites== The status of Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem, including Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount, is also unresolved. In 1924, the [[Supreme Muslim Council]], the highest Muslim body in charge of Muslim community affairs in Mandatory Palestine, accepted [[Hussein bin Ali, King of Hejaz|Hussein bin Ali]] ([[Sharif of Mecca]]) as custodian of [[Al-Aqsa]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/abdullah-no-to-undermining-jordans-control-of-jerusalem-holy-sites-651743|title=Abdullah: No to undermining Jordan's control of Jerusalem holy sites|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>
In the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan, Israel committed to "respect the present special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Muslim Holy shrines in Jerusalem." Israel also pledged that when negotiations on the permanent status will take place, it will give high priority to the Jordanian historical role in these shrines. The [[Wakf]] Department that oversees Muslim sites in Jerusalem is controlled by the Jordanian government, which insists on its exclusive custodianship of the holy site. In 2013, the Palestinian Authority also recognized Jordan's role through an agreement signed between PA President [[Mahmoud Abbas]] and [[King Abdullah II]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/jordan-fears-losing-control-over-muslim-sites-in-jerusalem-651125|title=Jordan fears losing control over Muslim sites in Jerusalem|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>
==Position of the Vatican== The [[Holy See|Vatican]] has had a long-held position on Jerusalem and its concern for the protection of the Christian [[holy places]] in the Holy Land which predates the [[Mandate for Palestine|Palestinian Mandate]]. The Vatican's historic claims and interests, as well as those of Italy and France were based on the former [[Protectorate of the Holy See]] and the [[French Protectorate of Jerusalem]], which were incorporated in article 95 of the [[Treaty of Sèvres]] (1920), which besides incorporating the [[Balfour Declaration]] also provided: "it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine". The Balfour Declaration and the proviso were also incorporated in the Palestinian Mandate (1923), but which also provided in articles 13 and 14 for an international commission to resolve competing claims on the holy places. These claimants had officially lost all capitulation rights by article 28 of the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] (1923). However, Britain never gave any effect to Mandate provisions arts 13 & 14.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
During the negotiations of proposals that culminated in the [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine]] (also known as Resolution 181) in 1947, the historic claims of the Vatican, Italy and France were revived, and expressed as the call for the special international regime for the city of Jerusalem. This was also confirmed in [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194|UN General Assembly Resolution 194]] in 1948, which maintained the position that Jerusalem be made an international city,<ref name="Kane"/> under United Nations supervision. The Vatican's official position on the status of Jerusalem was in favour of an [[internationalization of Jerusalem]], in order to keep the holy place away from either Israeli or Arab sovereignty.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vatican renews call for peace, negotiated solution on Jerusalem|url=https://cnewa.org/vatican-renews-call-for-peace-negotiated-solution-on-jerusalem/|publisher=CNEWA|date=11 December 2017|quote=The Vatican consistently has called for a special status for Jerusalem, particularly its Old City, in order to protect and guarantee access to the holy sites of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.}}</ref>
Pope [[Pius XII]] supported this idea in the 1949 encyclical ''[[Redemptoris nostri cruciatus]]''. It was proposed again during the papacies of [[John XXIII]], [[Paul VI]], [[John Paul II]] and [[Benedict XVI]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/vatican-hails-un-palestine-vote-1.5266588|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219000827/https://www.haaretz.com/vatican-hails-un-palestine-vote-1.5266588|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 December 2018|title=Vatican Hails UN Palestine Vote, Wants Guarantees for Jerusalem|date=30 November 2012|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref> The Vatican reiterated this position in 2012, recognizing Jerusalem's "identity and sacred character" and calling for freedom of access to the city's holy places to be protected by "an internationally guaranteed special statute". After the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017, [[Pope Francis]] repeated the Vatican's position: "I wish to make a heartfelt appeal to ensure that everyone is committed to respecting the status quo of the city, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the United Nations."<ref>{{Cite news| last = Horowitz| first = Jason| title = U.N., European Union and Pope Criticize Trump's Jerusalem Announcement| work = The New York Times| access-date = 10 December 2017| date = 6 December 2017| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/06/world/europe/trump-jerusalem-pope.html}}</ref>
==French claims in Jerusalem== {{see also|Protectorate of the Holy See|Fischer-Chauvel Agreement}} There are four sites in Jerusalem claimed by [[France]] under a [[French national domain in the Holy Land|national domain]] ({{lang|fr|Domaine national français}}), which are based on claimed French acquisitions predating the formation of the State of Israel, and based on the former [[French Protectorate of Jerusalem]] (also known as capitulations), which was abolished in 1923. These sites are:
* [[Church of the Pater Noster]], also known as the Sanctuary of the Eleona * [[Benedictine monastery in Abu Ghosh]] * [[Tombs of the Kings (Jerusalem)|Tombs of the Kings]] * [[Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem|Church of Saint Anne]]
French presidents have claimed that the [[Church of Saint Anne, Jerusalem|Church of Saint Anne in Jerusalem]], for example, comes under French protection, is owned by its government, and is French territory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/french-president-macron-confronts-police-in-jerusalems-old-city-614989|title=Macron confronts police in Jerusalem's Old City|work=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=VIDEO. "Je n'aime pas ce que vous avez fait devant moi" : le coup de colère (en anglais) d'Emmanuel Macron contre les forces de sécurité israéliennes à Jérusalem|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/politique/emmanuel-macron/je-n-aime-pas-ce-que-vous-avez-fait-devant-moi-le-coup-de-colere-en-anglais-d-emmanuel-macron-contre-les-forces-de-securite-israeliennes-a-jerusalem_3795689.html|website=Franceinfo|language=fr|date=2020-01-22|access-date=2020-01-22}}</ref> The Israeli government has not made any public statement relating to the French claims.
==See also== {{portal|Israel|Palestine}} * [[Foreign relations of Israel]] * [[Green Line (Israel)]] * [[International recognition of the State of Palestine]] * [[Status of territories occupied by Israel in 1967]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
[[Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict legal issues|Jerusalem]] [[Category:Jerusalem in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict| ]] [[Category:Palestinian nationalism]] [[Category:Zionism]]