Olmert says 'seeks to expand Jerusalem'

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JERUSALEM, May 13 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday he would seek to expand the borders of Jerusalem and that he hoped for eventual world acceptance of Israeli rule in the disputed city.

At a ceremony marking the anniversary of Israel's capture and annexation in 1967 of the city's eastern sector which Palestinians seek as a capital for a future state, Olmert said:

"The past 40 years are only the beginning. I believe, hope and pray that we will continue to work together to strengthen Jerusalem, to expand its borders, to cultivate its foundations, to build its neighbourhoods."

In his remarks at the Western Wall remnant of an ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem, Olmert said Israel hoped to achieve world acceptance of its rule in the city, by respecting its holiness to three faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

"If we do this with wisdom and caution, we will preserve this city always under our sovereignty, complete and united and accepted by the entire world. This is our goal," Olmert said.

About 200,000 Israelis have moved into neighbourhoods Israel has built in Arab East Jerusalem since annexing the area after a 1967 Middle East War and making it a part of its capital, in a move not recognised internationally.

The city is also home to some 230,000 Palestinians, most of whom live separately from Israelis.

Israel said last week it had plans to build another 20,000 housing units for Israelis in east Jerusalem, a bid some Palestinian officials condemned as an obstacle to U.S.-backed efforts to revive peace talks long stalled by violence.

A recently revived Arab peace plan Olmert has said he views positively offers Israel normal relations with the Arab world in exchange for a full withdrawal from lands the Jewish state captured in the 1967 War, including east Jerusalem.

Israel's Foreign Ministry earlier expressed regret some European diplomats had declined invitations to attend a gala parliament session planned for Monday to mark the anniversary of East Jerusalem's capture by the Jewish state.


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The international Red Cross has privately accused Israel of reshaping Jerusalem to further its own interests, in violation of international law.

A leaked ICRC report says Israeli policy has far-reaching humanitarian consequences for Palestinians living under occupation in East Jerusalem.

Israel captured East Jerusalem in 1967, and the territory is regarded as occupied land under international law.

But Israel rejects this, and says the report's premise is, therefore, wrong.

The report says Israel shows "general disregard" for its obligations under international humanitarian law and the law of military occupation in particular.

Violations that change the status of East Jerusalem include the West Bank barrier, an outer ring of Jewish settlements around the city and roads to connect Israeli districts and settlements, the report says.

An ICRC spokesman confirmed that leaked quotations in a US newspaper were from a confidential report transmitted in February 2007 to Israel and some other governments.

Boycott

The leak comes a day before Israel marks 40 years, according to the Jewish calendar, since its capture of East Jerusalem from Jordanian control, in the 1967 war.

"We reject the premise of the report," said Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

"East Jerusalem is not occupied land, it is part of Israel. All people there were offered full Israeli citizenship."

Israel's unilateral moves in Jerusalem have been condemned by several UN Security Council Resolutions.

US and EU ambassadors have boycotted ceremonies in the run-up to Israel's Jerusalem Day on Wednesday, arguing that the status of the city should be determined by negotiations with the Palestinians.



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