The European Union (EU) will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders, including with regard to East Jerusalem, Shadi Othman, spokesperson for the EU in Jerusalem, said on Wednesday.

Othman emphasized, “The EU position with regard to Jerusalem remains unchanged. It is reflected in Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions and endorsed by all 28 EU Member States. The EU will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties.”

Othman noted that the EU’s position applies to all territory occupied by Israel.

He stressed, “The European Union, in line with international law, does not recognize Israel’s sovereignty over any of the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, including East Jerusalem, and does not consider them to be part of Israel’s territory, irrespective of their legal status under domestic Israeli law.”

With regard to the holy places in East Jerusalem, particularly Bab al-Rahma at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Othman said that “the EU recognizes the special significance of the holy sites of Jerusalem for the three monotheistic religions, and strongly believes that the status quo put in place in 1967 must be upheld in line with previous understandings and with respect to Jordan’s special role.”

Federica Mogherini, the European Union foreign policy chief, said in a statement that the EU does not agree with the United States President Donald Trump’s decision recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.Mogherini said, “The position of the European Union as regards the status of the Golan Heights has not changed. In line with the international law and UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 497, the European Union does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.”

Source: Ma’an News Agency