Statement of Principles on Jerusalem

The objective of ATFP is the establishment of a Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside Israel, and an end of the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. ATFP is opposed to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, but is not opposed to the state of Israel in its internationally recognized borders.

1) A resolution of the issue of Jerusalem can only come about through direct negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian officials as an expression of their national policies. No other parties are entitled to negotiate on this issue.

2) Jerusalem is a central part of the present and futures of both Palestinian and Israeli societies, and is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims around the world. Lasting peace can only be achieved by securing the political aspirations of both peoples and the religious rights of the three religions.

3) There can be no monopoly of sovereignty by either party. Jerusalem should remain shared and undivided. The occupation of Arab East Jerusalem must end and it should serve as the capital of the future state of Palestine. West Jerusalem should serve as the capital of Israel.

4) No religion or nationality can be privileged in Jerusalem. The right of access to holy places and the right of worship in the city must be guaranteed for people of all faiths from around the world.

5) Unilateral measures taken by Israel since 1967 and that continue until today, cannot be allowed to dictate or prejudice the final status of Jerusalem. Such measures include buildings, confiscation of land, barriers and walls, as well as political and legal documents.

Selected Jerusalem Facts:

- There have been 11 Security Council resolutions since 1967 critical of Israeli activities changing the status of Jerusalem. The Security Council has repeatedly declared that all measures taken by Israel to change the demographic composition, physical character, institutional structure or status of occupied territories, including Jerusalem, are null and void. (Resolutions 446, 425, 465)

-  There are 182,000 Israeli settlers in East Jerusalem living in 15 settlements.

-  66% of what Israel has declared to be “united” Jerusalem today is territory seized by force: 5% comprises the old Jordanian municipality while 61% is West Bank territory added to the expanded Jerusalem municipal border following the 1967 war, approximately 17,500 acres.

-  Approximately 230,000 Palestinians hold East Jerusalem residency permits. About 60,000 of these people are located on the West Bank side of the barrier and will need Israeli permission to cross the barrier to access services to which they are entitled inside Jerusalem.