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Vell: Not All European Community Members Agree to Jerusalem As the United Capital of Israel

December 9, 1980
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— Simone Veil, President of the Parliament of Europe, stressed were today that there were many differing views about the status of Jerusalem among the members of the European community. She remarked, in the presence of Premier Menachem Begin, the fact that the group of European parliamentarians she is heading on her visit to Israel is in Jerusalem, should not be taken as an endorsement of Israel’s concept of united Jerusalem as its capital.

The visitors met with Begin and other Israeli leaders at the Knesset today. Begin took the occasion to defend the government’s decision to desert Mayors Fahd Kawasme of Hebron and Mohammed Milhim of Halhoul. He said the decision was based on the fact that the two mayors had instigated anti-Israel activity on the West Bank.

Begin also observed that the Jordanian-Syrian border crisis seems to be over. “if the danger of war between the two countries disappears, every on of good will be glad,” he said.

Shimon Peres, chairman of the opposition Labor Party, told the European group that his party did not want Israel to rule over the Palestinian people against their will.

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