Israel makes it harder to cede parts of Jerusalem

jerusalem - The Israeli parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that makes it more difficult to hand over parts of Jerusalem after a peace agreement with the Palestinians. The Palestinians condemn the proposal because it undermines every opportunity to resume peace talks.

By law, the number of members of the 120-person Knesset who must agree to surrender parts of Jerusalem to 'a foreign party' has been increased from 61 to 80. The amendment, which had long been on the way, was adopted with 64 votes. for against 52 voted against.

Nabil Abu Rdainah, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, labeled the change of law adopted on Tuesday as 'a declaration of war on the Palestinian people. '

As the home of important Islamic, Jewish and Christian holy places, Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel annexed the Arab east of the city in 1967 and has been occupying it since then. Israel says that the whole city is its 'eternal and indivisible' capital, but the international community does not recognize it.

The Palestinians want to make East Jerusalem the capital of their state on the occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip.

Last month, American President Donald Trump received a storm of international criticism because of the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.