White House asks Romney to clarify description of Jerusalem as "Israel's capital"

The White House has called on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to clarify his controversial remarks about Jerusalem which have outraged Palestinians.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that Romney’s remarks, in which he endorsed Jerusalem as “Israel’s capital”, contradict the US position which has been adopted by former Democratic and Republican presidents alike.

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Mr Earnest told journalists at a press briefing that the position of the current administration is that “the capital (Jerusalem) is an issue which should be resolved by final status negotiations between the two sides – Palestinians and Israelis.

“If Romney does not accept this position, it means that he does not accept the positions of previous US presidents such as Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan.”