Israel anger as UK Prince set to visit ‘occupied’ East Jerusalem

Israeli Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Zeev Elkin was enraged as UK Prince William referred to East Jerusalem as occupied land, claiming that “united” Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for 3,000 years, Israeli news website Ynet News reported yesterday.

According to the news site, Prince William, who is to arrive in the region on 25 June, will visit the occupied Old City of Jerusalem as part of his tour of the Palestinian territories.

The Israeli news website said that Elkin was especially enraged by Kensington Palace’s official statement which said: “The programme in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will begin with a short briefing on the history and geography of Jerusalem’s Old City from a viewing point at the Mount of Olives.”

On his Facebook page, Elkin wrote: “It’s regrettable that Britain chose to politicise the Royal visit. Unified Jerusalem has been the capital of Israel for over 3,000 years and no twisted wording of the official press release will change the reality. I’m expecting the prince’s staff to fix this distortion.”

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Prince William and the Kensington Palace have not yet announced the sites included in the trip, but an informed source told the Israeli news website that he would visit Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Church of Saint John the Baptist and Al-Buraq (Western) Wall.

East Jerusalem is considered occupied under international law.