Israel Declares Jerusalem 'Eternal, Undivided Capital' in Basic Law
Knesset passes law claiming all of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, triggering international condemnation and embassy relocations.
JERUSALEM - Israel’s Knesset today passed the Basic Law: Jerusalem, declaring the entire city, including occupied East Jerusalem, as Israel’s “eternal and undivided capital,” prompting immediate international condemnation and threats of diplomatic sanctions.
The law, approved 69-15, formalizes Israel’s 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem, stating: “Jerusalem, complete and united, is the capital of Israel.” It guarantees free access to holy sites while asserting Israeli sovereignty over areas Palestinians claim for their future capital.
“Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital for 3,000 years,” Prime Minister Menachem Begin declared. “No UN resolution or foreign pressure will change this eternal truth.”
Palestinian leaders denounced the law as illegal under international law. “This is theft in broad daylight,” said Faisal Husseini, a prominent East Jerusalem Palestinian. “Jerusalem is the heart of Palestine. Without it, there can be no Palestinian state.”
The UN Security Council convened in emergency session, with even the United States criticizing the move. “This unilateral action undermines peace efforts,” US Ambassador Donald McHenry stated, though America will likely veto any binding resolution.
The law’s immediate impact includes:
- Embassy Exodus: Countries maintaining embassies in Jerusalem announced relocations to Tel Aviv
- Arab Outrage: Arab states called for oil embargo considerations
- Palestinian Protests: Demonstrations erupted in East Jerusalem and West Bank
- International Isolation: European Community threatened economic sanctions
East Jerusalem contains sites sacred to three religions:
- The Western Wall and Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif
- The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- The Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock
“Israel is playing with fire,” warned Jordan’s King Hussein, whose country administered East Jerusalem until 1967. “Jerusalem is holy to 1.5 billion Muslims who will never accept Israeli sovereignty over Al-Aqsa.”
The Vatican expressed “profound concern,” reiterating calls for Jerusalem’s international status. “The Holy City belongs to all believers, not one state,” a papal spokesman said.
Even Israel’s friends expressed dismay. The Netherlands, which maintained its embassy in Jerusalem since 1950, announced relocation plans. Costa Rica and El Salvador, the only other countries with Jerusalem embassies, are reconsidering.
The law crystallizes the Jerusalem dilemma at the conflict’s heart. For Israelis, Jerusalem’s unity is non-negotiable; for Palestinians, East Jerusalem as their capital is equally sacred. Today’s law hardens these irreconcilable positions, making future compromise even more difficult.